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GIFT   Of 
Sir   Henry   Heyiaan 


.:>  - 


A    SKETCH 


MUSICAL  FUND  SOCIETY 


PHILADELPHIA. 


READ  BEFORE  THE  SOCIETY  JANUARY  29,  1885, 


BY 
WILLIAM    L.    MACTIER. 


ORGANIZED  FEBRUARY  29,  1820. 
INCORPORATED  FEBRUARY  22,  1823. 


PHILADELPHIA: 

PRESS  OF  HENRY  B.  ASH  MEAD, 

1102  AND  1104  Sansom  Street. 
1885. 


(^v-/  ,  /    £a    m'  I    ''muotu 


MUSICAL  FUND  SOCIETY, 

PHILADELPHIA. 


BOARD  OF   DIRECTORS. 

1884^85. 

PRESIDENT. 

RICHARD  J.  DUNGLISON,  M.D. 

VICE-PRESIDENT. 

WILLIAM  L.  MACTIER. 

TREASURER. 

JOHN  T.  JONES. 

SECRETARY. 

JAMES  V.  PATTERSON,  M.D. 

C.  F.  STOLTE,  D.  E.  DALLAM, 

BRYANT  FERGUSON,  H.  G.  CLAY, 

THOMAS  FITZGERALD,  J.  G.  KLEMM, 

P.  C.  HOLLIS,  -MURRAY  GIBSON, 

WILLIAM  STOLL,  A.  KORNDCERFER, 

H.  P.  PERDRIAUX,  WM.  B.  ATKINSON,  M.D. 

CHAS.  P.  TURNER,  M.D.,  JOS.  G.  ROSENGARTEN, 

S.  WINNER,  JOHN  T.  JONES, 

WILLIAM  H.  LEX,  A.  G.  HETHERINGTON, 

GEORGE  BASTERT,  GEO.  P.  KIMBALL. 

COUNSELLORS. 

WM.  HENRY   LEX,  JOS.  G.  ROSENGARTEN. 

PHYSICIANS. 
JAMES  V.  PATTERSON,  M.D.,  CHAS.  P.  TURNER,  M.D. 

SUPERINTENDENT. 

JOSIAH  A.  KELCH. 


55'^r)(>6 


Philadelphia,  Dec.  15,  1884. 
William  L.  Mactier,  Esq. 
Dear  Sir: 

At  the  stated  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Managers  of 
the  Musical  Fund  Society,  the  President  stated  that  you  had 
prepared  a  short  sketch  of  the  musical  history  of  the  Hall.  It 
was  therefore  resolved  that  you  should  be  invited  to  read  it 
before  the  Board,  the  members  of  the  Society,  the  press,  and  a 
few  other  guests,  at  such  time  as  you  may  select ;  and  that,  on 
the  evening  so  chosen,  the  improvements  in  the  Hall  be  open 
for  public  inspection.  I  would  be  glad  to  hear  from  you  on  the 
subject. 

Yours  truly, 

Joseph  G.  Rosengarten, 

Chairman  Committee  of  the  Fund. 


Philadelphia,  Jan.  15,  1885. 

Joseph  G.  Rosengarten,  Esq., 

Chairman  Committee  of  the  Fund. 

Dear  Sir: 

I  have  your  favor  of  15th  ultimo,  enclosing  a  copy 
of  the  Resolution  of  the  Board,  at  its  last  meeting,  inviting  me 
to  read  before  the  members  of  the  Society,  the  press,  and  a  few 
other  guests,  "A  Sketch  of  the  Musical  Fund  Society  of  Phil- 
adelphia." 

It  will  give  me  great  pleasure  to  do  so,  and,  if  agreeable  to 
you,  I  would  name  Thursday  evening,  the  29th  inst.,  for  that 
purpose. 

Yours  very  truly, 

William  L.  Mactier, 

132  Walnut  Street. 


A   SKETCH 

OF  THE 

MUSICAL    FUND    SOCIETY 

OF  PHILADELPHIA. 


The  Musical  Fund  Society  of  Philadelphia  was 
established  February  2d,  1820.  It  embraced  pro- 
fessors of  music  and  amateur  members.  The  first 
meeting  took  place  at  Elliott's  Hotel,  Chestnut  Street, 
January  7,  1820;  Dr.  Wm.  P.  Dewees  in  the  chair 
and  John  K.  Kane,  Secretary.  The  officers  were  a 
President,Vice-President,  Treasurer,  Secretary,  twelve 
Managers  of  the  Fund,  and  twelve  Directors  of  the 
Music.  At  the  expiration  of  the  year  the  Society, 
finding  the  room  first  selected  for  the  accommodation 
of  its  members  too  small,  took  the  Carpenters'  Com- 
pany Hall,  on  Chestnut  Street,  between  Third  and 
Fourth  Streets.  The  practicings  were  held  regularly 
on  the  first  and  third  Thursdays  of  the  month,  and 
on  the  intervening  Thursday  evenings  there  were 
private  vocal  rehearsals,  to  Avhich  performing  mem- 
bers only  were  admitted. 

The  objects  of  the  Society  were,  first,  to  cultivate 


8 


and  diffuse  a  musical  taste ;  and  secondly,  to  afford 
relief  to  its  necessitous  professional  members  and 
their  families. 

Its  first  concert  was  given  on  Tuesday,  April  24, 
1821,  at  Washington  Hall,  Third  Street  above  Spruce 
Street.  The  orchestra  and  chorus  consisted  of  one 
hundred  performers. 

The  following  is  the  programme : 


MUSICAL    FUND    SOCIETY 

or   PHILADELPHIA. 


FIRST    CONCEIIT, 

FOR  THE  BENEFIT  OF  THE  FUND, 

The  public  are  respectfully  informed  that  the  First  Concert 
for  the  Benefit  of  the  Fund  will  be  given  at  the  Grand  Saloon, 
Washington  Hall,  on  Tuesday,  24th  April,  1821. 

Conductors— Messrs.  B.  Carr,  B.  Cross,  P.  Gilles,  C.  F.  Hup- 
feld,  T.  Loud,  G.  Schetky. 

PLAN  OF  THE  CONCERT. 
PART  FIRST. 

Overture — De  1' Opera  Les  Deux  Aveugles  de  To- 

IMe,  full  orchestra, Mehul. 

Chorus — See,  the  Conquering  Hero  conies,     .        .        .  Handel. 

Concerto  Violoncello— Mr.  Gilles,          ....  Platel. 

Glee  and  Chorus — Awake,  Eolian  Lyre,  with  or- 
chestra accompaniments,  by  B.  Carr,       .         .         .  Danhy. 

Grand  Sinfonia  in  C, Beethoven. 


PART  SECOND. 

Concerto,  Violin — Mr.  C.  F.  Hupfeld,   .         .         .  Kreutzer. 

New  Glee  and  Chorus — Sequel  to  the  "  Ked  Cross 
Knight/'  never  performed  in  this  country,  with 
orchestra  accompaniments,  by  B.  Carr,   .         .      Dr.  Clarke. 

Overture — De  I'Opera  Tancredi, Rossini. 

Chorus — Te  Deum  Laudamus,  full  orchestra  ac- 
companiments, by  B.  Carr, Graun. 

Grand  Sinfonia  in  E, Romberg. 

Leader— Mr.  C.  F.  Hupfeld. 

Principal  Violins — Messrs.    N.  De  Luce,   Heinrich,   Kalm, 
Getze,  Grelaud,  etc.,  etc. 
Principal  Violoncello — M.  P.  Gilles, 
Violoncellos — Messrs.  Lomman,  Sr.,  etc.,  etc. 
Tenors — Messrs.  Cantor,  C.  Homman,  etc.,  etc. 
Principal  Double  Bass — Mr.  Schetky. 
Double  Basses — Messrs.  J.  C.  Homman  and  Klemm. 
Principal  Flute — Mr.  Dannenberg. 

The  Conductors  of  the  Vocal  Music  will  alternately  preside  at 
the  Organ. 

The  Orchestra  will  consist  of  one  hundred  Vocal  and  Instru- 
mental performers. 

To  commence  at  7  o'clock. 

The  members  of  the  Society  will  please  to  apply  at  the  So- 
ciety's Hall,  in  Carpenters'  Court,  for  their  two  Ladies'  Tickets, 
on  Saturday,  Monday  and  Tuesday,  from  nine  till  one  o'clock. 

Tickets,  one  dollar  each,  for  sale  at  the  music  stores  of  Messrs. 
G.  E.  Blake,  G.  Willig,  Bacon  &  Hart,  Klemm  &  Brother,  and 
at  the  book  stores  of  Messrs.  M.  Carey  Son,  M.  Thomas,  and  at 
the  Washington  Hall  on  the  evening  of  the  performance. 

April  20. 


10 


In  order  to  secure  the  proper  rendition  of  the  con- 
certs, the  Society  began  the  formation  of  a  musical 
library,  and  large  sums  of  money  were  appropriated 
to  the  purchase  of  sheet  music,  opera  scores  and  mu- 
sical instruments.  The  catalogue  of  printed  music, 
made  up  during  the  year  1879,  numbered  304  pieces, 
comprising  overtures  with  full  orchestral  parts,  opera 
music,  oratorios,  sacred  music,  symphonies  with  or- 
chestral parts,  and  miscellaneous  pieces. 

The  most  distinguished  and  estimable  of  our  citi- 
zens rapidly  joined  the  Society  and  became  interested 
in  its  advancement.  Its  first  President  was  Dr. 
William  P.  Dewees,  and  its  first  Vice-President  Dr. 
Robert  M.  Patterson.  Judge  John  K.  Kane,  Benja- 
min Say,  Francis  Gurney  Smith,  Franklin  Peale, 
Dr.  R.  La  Roche,  Francis  M.  Drexel,  Dr.  George 
McClellan,  Thomas  Sully,  John  Keating,  Jr.,  William 
Meredith,  James  Nevins,  William  Kneass,  John  F. 
Grelaud,  Dr.  Isaac  Hays,  Abraham  Ritter,  and  Fran- 
cis Hopkinson,  became  members  in  1820.  A  peculiar 
feature  of  the  Society  was  the  admission  of  a  large 
number  of  lady  members,  both  amateur  and  profes- 
sional. At  the  meeting,  April  4, 1820,  at  154  Chest- 
nut Street,  Dr.  Wm.  P.  Dewees,  President,  in  the 
chair,  there  were  elected  four  gentlemen,  three  lady 
amateurs  and  two  lady  professors. 

June  10,  1822,  the  Society  gave  Haydn^s  oratorio 


11 


of  the  "Creation"  in  an  eminently  worthy  manner, 
with  full  orchestra  and  organ  accompaniment — the 
solos  being  taken  by  Mrs.  French,  Miss  Taws  and 
Miss  Taylor;  Messrs.  Cross,  Dyer,  Bird  and  Cooper; 
the  vocal  conductors  were  Benjamin  Carr,  Benjamin 
Cross  and  Thomas  Loud,  and  the  instrumental  con- 
ductors P.  Gilles,  Charles  F.  Hupfeld  and  George 
Klemm.  The  same  oratorio  was  repeated  success- 
fully on  the  2d  of  November  following.  So  early  in 
its  history  as  June  of  this  year  the  Society  was  called 
upon  to  relieve  the  necessities  of  a  fellow-member, 
an  organist  of  one  of  our  oldest  churches,  and  the  sum 
of  two  hundred  dollars  was  appropriated  to  his  relief; 
and  he  was  buried,  and  a  modest  monument  erected 
to  his  memory,  in  St.  Peter's  church-yard,  at  the  ex- 
pense of  the  Society. 

As  larger  accommodations  were  required,  in  1824 
a  lot  of  ground  was  purchased  for  $7500,  situate  on 
Locust  Street  between  Eighth  and  Ninth  Streets,  on 
which  stood  a  church  edifice,  formerly  occupied  by 
a  congregation  under  the  pastoral  charge  of  Rev. 
Thomas  H.  Skinner.  The  corner-stone  of  the  new 
hall  was  laid  May  25,  1824,  and  the  building  com- 
pleted December  24  of  that  year,  under  the  plan 
and  superintendence  of  William  Strickland,  one  of 
the  members  of  the  Society.  The  whole  cost  was  as 
follows : 


12 


.  $7,500  00 

.  12,968  56 

.   2,219  51 

859  01 

$23,547  08 

Cost  of  lot,   . 

"      building,  . 
Furniture,     . 
Incidental  expenses, 


In  May  the  thanks  of  the  Society  were  voted  to 
the  vestry  of  St.  Stephen's  Church,  for  their  liberality 
in  promoting  the  objects  of  the  Society,  by  allowing 
the  gratuitous  use  of  the  church  building  for  the 
performance  of  Haydn's  oratorio  of  the  "Creation." 

In  May,  1825,  steps  were  taken  towards  the  form- 
ation of  a  school  or  Academy  of  Music,  for  pro- 
moting a  more  general  knowledge  of  music  and 
supplying  the  orchestra  of  the  Society  with  skillful 
performers.  In  September  the  Academy  was  form- 
ally opened,  under  a  corps  of  competent  teachers, 
with  twenty-five  pupils.  The  Academy  existed  for 
six  years,  when,  finding  that  its  continuance  entailed 
serious  loss  to  the  Society,  it  was  closed. 

November  10,  1826,  was  given  the  twelfth  con- 
cert of  the  Society,  in  which  the  Misses  Gillingham 
and  Mr.  Paddon  took  the  principal  parts.  In  this 
year  it  was  proposed  to  establish  the  "American 
Journal  of  Fine  Arts,"  to  be  conducted  by  a  joint 
committee  of  the  Pennsylvania  Academy  of  the  Fine 
Arts  and  the  Musical  Fund  Society  of  Philadelphia. 


13 


The  committee,  to  which  the  matter  was  referred, 
were  wisely  charged  to  make  no  arrangement  that 
did  not  provide  a  reasonable  assurance  that  the  pub- 
lication should  not  infringe  upon  the  funds  of  the 
respective  institutions.  The  project,  however,  was 
abandoned  as  not  at  that  time  practicable. 

The  great  musical  event  of  the  following  year  was 
the  appearance  of  Madame  Malibran,  usually  styled 
Signorina,  in  a  miscellaneous  concert  in  the  Musical 
Fund  Hall. 

The  programme  was  as  follows : 

June  16,  1827.  ^^  First  appearance  of  Madame 
Malibran  in  Philadelphia." 

Part  I. 

Overture, Mozart. 

Aria — "  Che  fara," Signorina. 

Aria — "  Batti,  batti," Signorina. 

Accompanied  by  Mr.  Gilles  on  the  violoncello. 

"Home,  Sweet  Home," Signorina. 

Minuetto, Haydn. 

Part  II. 

Overture, Haydn. 

Song — "  The  Light  Guitar," Signorina. 

Solo,  violoncello,  accompanied  by  ...         Signorina. 

"  Nel  cor  piu  non  mi  sento,"  with  variations,  by  .         Signorina. 

"  Di  tanti  palpiti," Signorina. 

Leader — Mr.  Hupfeld.  Piano — Mr.  Da  Coninck. 

Admission,  $2. 


14 


Her  second  concert  was  given  at  the  new  Chestnut 
Street  Theatre,  on  Saturday  evening,  June  23,  1827. 

April  30,  1828.  The  Society  gave  its  sixteenth 
concert,  presenting  HandePs  oratorio  of  the  ^'  Mes- 
siah," the  solos  being  taken  by  Miss  George,  Master 
Mercer,  and  Messrs.  Pearson,  Cross,  Horn  and  Bird. 

December  11,  1828.  The  Society  gave  its  seven- 
teenth concert  in  aid  of  its  funds.  A  solo  and  chorus 
from  "Orpheus,"  and  selections,  vocal  and  instru- 
mental, from  Rossini,  Mozart,  Boieldieu,  Mehul, 
Beethoven  and  Weber,  made  up  the  programme. 

In  1829  a  committee  was  appointed  to  ascertain 
and  determine  a  standard  concert-pitch.  In  the  con- 
certs of  this  year  appeared  the  favorite  singer  James 
Howard,  who  lived  in  this  city  till  his  death,  in  1848. 

The  twentieth  concert  took  place  November  26, 
1829,  the  principal  vocalists  being  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Pearman,  Mrs.  Franklin  and  Mrs.  Andrews;  and 
Mr.  Schindoelecker,  violoncello. 

The  hall  of  the  Society  very  soon  became  noted 
for  its  admirable  acoustic  qualities,  being  also  Well 
lighted,  well  ventilated,  and  sufficiently  spacious  to 
meet  the  demands  of  the  community.  Madame  Ma- 
libran  again  appeared  upon  its  stage  in  1831,  and 
was  supported  by  the  Italian  basso  Sign  or  Montres- 
sor,  one  of  the  opera  troupe  of  which  she  was  the 
soprano.     Mrs.  Austin,  an  English  lady,  followed. 


15 


March  24,  1831.  The  Society  gave  its  twenty- 
third  concert,  the  vocal  parts  being  sustained  by 
Mme.  Brichta  and  Mr.  Milon ;  and  the  instrumental 
parts  by  Mr.  Cuddy,  flutist,  and  Mr.  Norton,  trumpet- 
er ;  under  the  leadership  of  Mr.  Hupfeld. 

January  13,  1832.  The  twenty-fifth  concert  em- 
braced the  following  talent:  Mrs.  Austin,  Mr. 
Sinclair,  Miss  Sterling,  Messrs.  Reinhart  and  Schin- 
doelecker. 

The  Society  lost  tw^o  of  its  most  w^orthy  members, 
Benjamin  Cross  and  George  Schetky,  who  were  as- 
i^ociated  with  the  Society  from  its  commencement. 
They  devoted  to  it  their  time,  talents  and  profes- 
sional skill,  and  did  mucli  to  foster  a  musical  taste 
in  the  city. 

March  7, 1833.  The  oratorio  of  "  Moses  in  Egypt " 
was  rendered,  with  the  following  effective  cast : 


Fornasari, 
Corsetti,  . 
Pedrotti, 

Signora  Pedrotti,     . 
Signora  Saccomini, 


Pharaoh. 
Moses. 
.  Aaron. 
.  Esther. 
,  Nicaule. 


November  28,  1833.  A  concert  was  given  by  the 
Society,  in  which  appeared  Mrs.  Austin,  Mr.  Cluss- 
man,  clarionet ;  Mr.  H.  J.  Trust,  on  the  harp ;  and 
Mr.  Power,  the  Irish  comedian. 

In  this  year  also  appeared  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wood, 


16 


who  became  established  favorites,  and  whose  popu- 
larity continued  for  a  long  time. 

February  26,  1834.  The  Society  gave  its  thirty- 
first  concert,  in  which  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wood  and  Mr. 
Taylor,  pianist,  took  part. 

The  Society,  in  order  to  encourage  original  com- 
position, oifered  prizes  of  silver  goblets  and  gold 
medals  for  the  best  instrumental  music  for  full  or- 
chestra, as  well  as  for  the  best  vocal  piece.  Some- 
what later  (April  2,  1839)  a  gold  medal  was  awarded 
to  M.  Bagiola  for  the  best  instrumental  piece  for  full 
orchestra. 

October  8.  Mr.  Norton,  who  was  trumpeter  to 
the  First  City  Troop  of  Philadelphia,  gave  a  con- 
cert, at  which  Miss  Watson  made  her  first  appear- 
ance ;  Mrs.  Franklin  and  Mr.  Archer  assisted. 

In  1836  the  hall  was  engaged  for  several  purposes. 
The  Society  presented  the  oratorio  of  the  "  Seasons  f 
Miss  Watson,  Mr.  Hupfeld,  Mr.  Hanna,  Mr.  Knight, 
Mr.  Dempster,  the  ballad  singer,  appeared  in  con- 
cert; Horace  Binney  delivered  an  oration  on  the 
death  of  Chief  Justice  Marshall ;  Sheridan  Knowles, 
the  dramatist,  Perdicaris,  the  Greek,  and  Dr.  McMur- 
trie.  Professor  in  the  High  School,  lectured  to  large 
audiences ;  Mons.  Adrian,  the  magician,  also  engaged 
the  hall  for  his  amusing  performances. 

November  26.     The  Society  gave  its  first  regular 


17 


concert  of  the  season,  with  the  assistance  of  Mrs. 
and  Miss  Watson  and  Signor  Fabj  in  the  vocal  de- 
partment, and  Signor  Krakamp  and  Mr.  Shubert  in 
the  instrumental. 

The  Philharmonic  Society — an  organization  com- 
posed of  amateurs,  led  by  a  professional  musician — 
gave  its  concerts  in  the  Musical  Fund  Hall,  which 
were  of  such  excellence  that  it  was  thought  by  many 
that  they  were  equal  to  those  given  by  the  Musical 
Fund  Society.  The  societies,  however,  having  dif- 
ferent aims  and  purposes,  ever  acted  in  perfect  har- 
mony with  each  other,  and  it  was  not  uncommon  to 
find  the  subscribers  to  the  one  members  of  the  other. 
The  Philharmonic  Society  ceased  to  exist  several 
years  ago. 

May  4,  1836.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wood,  Brough  and 
Walton  appeared  in  the  first  part  of  "  La  Sonnam- 
bula,''  with  the  chorus  and  orchestra  of  the  Chestnut 
Street  Theatre.  Mrs.  Wood,  in  the  role  of  Aminay 
had  achieved  a  great  reputation,  which  she  fully 
merited.  October  12,  Signors  Gambati,  Cioffi,  Fabj 
and  Madame  Otto  appeared  in  a  grand  concert. 
Signor  Cioffi  performed  on  the  trombone,  an  instru- 
ment then  so  little  known  and  appreciated  that,  at 
the  time  of  the  organization  of  the  Society,  there 
was  not  one  to  be  found  in  Philadelphia,  and  the  loan 
of  one  was  sought  for  in  Bethlehem,  fifty  miles  dis- 


18 


tant.  Signer  Gambati  and  John  T.  Norton  competed 
for  the  public  favor  upon  the  trumpet,  the  former 
using  the  valve  and  the  latter  the  plain  trumpet. 
Miss  Minna  Overstoltz,  a  German  pianist,  displayed 
great  proficiency  in  the  performance  of  a  rather 
limited  repertoire;  she  appeared  in  the  Society's 
first  concert  of  the  season,  December  8,  together 
with  Miss  Watson,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Morley  and  Mr. 
Gilles,  violoncellist,  the  orchestra  being  under  the 
direction  of  Mr.  Hupfeld. 

On  December  31,  David  Paul  Brown  delivered 
a  eulogy  on  William  Rawle,  an  esteemed  and  dis- 
tinguished member  of  the  Philadelphia  bar. 

1837.  January  18,  Mr.  Charles  Seitz,  from  Vi- 
enna, gave  a  grand  concert,  supported  by  Messrs. 
Keyser,  Meignen,  Peile,  A.  Schmitz,  Hiittner,  Cross 
and  Seitz,  instrumentalists,  and  the  Misses  Watson 
and  Charlotte  Ford,  vocalists. 

February  7.  Mrs.  Gibbs  (formerly  Miss  Grad- 
den),  from  England,  appeared  in  the  Society's  regular 
concert;  Mr.  Charles  F.  Hupfeld,  leader. 

Mr.  Hupfeld  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Society, 
and  the  first  leader  of  its  orchestra.  He  was  born  in 
Germany  in  1787,  arrived  in  this  country  at  the  age 
of  fourteen,  and  died  in  this  city  July  15, 1864.  He 
was  an  ornament  to  his  profession,  in  which  he  filled 
a  conspicuous  part,  and  was  greatly  esteemed  by  all 


19 


who  knew  him.  He  was  created  an  honorary  mem- 
ber of  the  Society  in  1857. 

The  following  is  extracted  from  the  Minutes  of  the 
Society : 

"Mr.  Hupfeld  was  the  friend  and  associate  of 
Benjamin  Carr,  George  Schetky,  P.  Gilles,  and  his 
father-in-law,  J.  C.  Homman,  all  names  eminent  in 
the  musical  circles  of  the  day.  These  gentlemen  and 
their  younger  colleagues,  B.  Cross,  Joseph  Taws  and 
Thomas  Loud,  constituted  the  principal  professional 
force,  which,  combined  with  the  scientific  and  busi- 
ness aid  of  those  lovers  of  music,  the  late  Dr.  DeAvees 
and  Dr.  Patterson,  Francis  Gurney  Smith  and  John 
K.  Kane,  founded  the  Musical  Fund  Society  at  a 
period  when  music,  if  not  in  its  infancy  in  this 
country,  was  very  far  from  being  what  it  has  since 
become,  and  which  owes  much  of  its  present  eleva- 
tion to  the  exertions  of  these  gentlemen,  and  to  the 
organization  of  which  they  were  the  founders." 

The  third  concert  of  the  season  was  given  May  12, 
on  which  occasion  the  Society  secured  the  assistance 
of  Signora  Rossi,  Signor  Valtellina,  primo  basso  can- 
tan  te  of  the  Havana  Italian  Company,  and  Signor 
Natale  Felice. 

A  concert  was  given  in  the  hall,  October  13,  by 
Signor  Paggi,  who  performed  on  the  oboe,  assisted 
by  Signora  Ruiz-Garcia,  the  sister  of  the  late  Mme. 


20 


Malibran,  Miss  Charlotte  Ford,  Signor  Valtellina, 
basso,  and  Signor  Rapetti,  violinist. 

October  20,  the  Prague  Company  of  Nine  Pro- 
fessors of  Musie  gave  their  farewell  concert. 

Gas  was  first  introduced  into  the  hall  September 
26,  1837,  and  greatly  added  to  the  brilliancy  of  the 
evening  entertainments. 

In  November  the  Constitutional  Convention  to 
reform  the  Constitution  of  the  State  met  in  the  hall, 
and  held  its  sessions  there  for  the  ensuing  ninety  days. 

In  1838,  March  12,  appeared  Mme.  Caradori- 
Allen,  an  English  singer  of  rare  excellence,  who  won 
"golden  opinions"  from  an  enthusiastic  public; 
Brough,  basso;  De  Begnis,  buffo;  Fornisari,  of  the 
Italian  opera ;  and  later  in  the  year  Henry  Russell, 
the  English  baritone,  whose  songs  became  universally 
popular.  "Silk''  Buckingham  delivered  a  course  of 
agreeable  lectures  on  Oriental  travel,  in  a  somewhat 
conversational  style  and  in  a  sitting  posture,  then 
quite  new  to  our  audiences. 

The  Society  gave  its  first  concert  of  the  season, 
the  forty-fourth,  November  15,  the  principal  per- 
formers being  Mme.  Caradori-Allen,  Henry  Russell, 
Mr.  Pfaif  and  Mr.  A.  Reinhart.  Mr.  Reinhart  led 
the  orchestra  and  Mr.  Jarvis  presided  at  the  piano- 
forte. 

Haydn's   oratorio   of  the  "Seasons"  was  given, 


21 


Februar}^  25,  1839,  as  the  forty-fifth  concert  of  the 
Society,  and  repeated  shortly  afterAvard.  It  was  re- 
garded as  the  great  musical  performance  of  the  year. 

In  the  same  year  Signor  Fabj,  Dempster,  the  Scotch 
ballad-singer,  Mr.  Wilson  and  Miss  Shireff,  often  ap- 
peared in  concert,  and  all  became  great  favorites  with 
the  public.  Professor  George  Combe  delivered  a 
course  of  lectures  on  Phrenology ;  Miss  Pardi,  a  pupil 
of  the  harpist  Bochsa,  gave  a  concert  on  the  1st  of 
October,  and  John  T.  Norton  on  the  30th  of  the 
same  month.  December  5,  the  Society  gave  its  first 
concert  of  the  season,  the  forty-sixth,  when  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Seguin  sang.  Miss  Pardi  played  on  the  harp, 
and  Signor  Ribas  on  the  oboe.  The  orchestra  w^as  led 
by  Mr.  Reinhart,  and  the  principal  parts  were  sus- 
tained by  Hupfeld,  Keyser,  Gambati,  Meignen,  Fiot, 
Hiittner,  Easche,  B.  C.  Cross,  Piele,  Frederick,  Carr, 
Jarvis,  Reinstein,  Riman,  T.  Cross,  Worrall  and 
Blanchor. 

In  1840,  January  23,  was  rendered  Neukomm's 
oratorio  of  '^  David  f  and  later  Braham,  the  English 
tenor,  then  a  very  old  man,  gave  a  concert  of  sacred 
music,  in  which  he  sang  selections  from  Handel,  and 
Luther's  grand  hymn,  "Great  God,  what  do  I  see  and 
hear !"  He  was  assisted  by  Mrs.  Edward  Loder,  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  C.  E.  Horn.  Concerts  were  given  by  an 
English  troupe,   comprising,  among   others,   Signor 


22 


Giubelei,  Miss  Poole  and  Mr.  Manvers.  Kossowski, 
a  Polish  pianist,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Watson  appeared  in 
concerts,  and  the  Pev.  Dr.  Moriarty  lectured. 

A.  Romberg's  ^^  Song  of  the  Bell ''  was  rendered, 
November  5,  in  the  forty-ninth  concert  of  the  Society. 
Though  brought  out  with  much  spirit,  it  was,  in  a 
pecuniary  point  of  view,  a  failure,  entailing  a  loss 
to  the  Society  of  about  five  hundred  dollars.  Two 
other  concerts  followed,  which  were  also  attended 
with  pecuniary  loss. 

February  8,  1841.  Through  the  exertions  and 
under  the  management  of  Mr.  William  Norris,  Jr., 
there  was  presented  the  "  Zauberflote,''  the  "  Magic 
Flute,''  in  which  Mme.  Otto,  Miss  Poole,  Messrs. 
Manvers,  Seguin,  Giubelei  and  Lasham,  took  the 
principal  parts. 

The  concerts  then  given  were  mostly  instrumental. 
Dona  Dolores  Nevares  de  Goni,  guitarist,  gave  very 
entertaining  performances,  as  also  did  the  handsome 
Nagel,  from  Stockholm,  a  pupil  of  Paganini.  Knoop, 
the  violoncellist,  Hervig,  the  violinist,  and  Miss  Slo- 
mans,  the  pianist,  also  gave  successful  concerts. 

In  1842  the  Rev.  John  Newlin  Maffitt,  an  elo- 
quent but  eccentric  Methodist  preacher,  delivered  a 
series  of  lectures ;  the  Rainer  family  gave  concerts ; 
Signor  Ribas  performed  solos  on  the  oboe,  and  Max 
Bohrer  on  the  violoncello. 


23 


The  Eainers  were  five  in  number ;  they  appeared 
in  the  costume  of  the  Tyrol,  and  sang  their  national 
melodies  with  great  effect. 

In  1843  there  appeared  in  the  hall,  successively, 
the  Seguins,  Mr.  Bley,  violinist ;  Professors  Wines 
and  Greenback,  lecturers ;  Nourrit,  Professor  of  vocal 
music  in  the  Conservatoire  of  Paris;  W.  Vincent 
Wallace,  the  composer  of  '^  Maritana'';  Signora  Cas- 
tellan, the  Havana  troupe,  Madame  Cinti  Dam- 
merau,  and  Artot,  the  distinguished  violinist. 

December  14,  at  the  fifty-seventh  concert,  appeared 
Mme.  Castellan  and  Signor  Giampietro. 

Ole  Bull,  the  Norwegian  violinist,  gave  a  concert 
on  December  16. 

In  1844  came  the  Hutchinsons  from  the  "Old 
Granite  State'';  a  family,  sixteen  in  number,  famil- 
iarly known  as  "The  Tribe  of  Jesse."  Asa  B. 
Hutchinson,  who  composed  many  of  their  most  suc- 
cessful songs,  and  who  was  the  youngest  of  the 
brothers,  died  very  recently  (Nov.  25,  1884),  leaving 
but  two  members  of  the  family  surviving,  John  and 
Abby. 

Signor  Casella,  violoncellist  to  the  King  of  Sar- 
dinia, gave  a  concert ;  Professor  Felix  Gouraud  gave 
lectures  on  Mnemotechny,  or  the  Art  of  Memory, 
by  which  dates,  or  any  combination  of  figures,  could 
be  remembered  at  the  moment  with  the  greatest  ease ; 


24 


Vieuxtemps,  the  famous  violinist,  chevalier  of  several 
orders,  gave  his  first  concert  in  the  hall. 

It  was  during  the  performance  of  that  evening, 
May  4,  1844,  occurred  the  commencement  of  the 
Kensington  riots,  which  filled  the  whole  city  with 
alarm,  and  which  finally  resulted  in  the  loss  of  human 
life  and  the  destruction  of  valuable  property. 

The  Swiss  Bell  Ringers,  or  Campanologians,  a 
company  composed  of  eight  young  men,  appeared  in 
September;  and  Henry  Phillips,  primo  basso  can- 
tante  of  Her  Majesty's  concerts,  made  his  first  ap- 
pearance in  Philadelphia.  His  farewell  concert  was 
given  December  6,  1844. 

On  the  11th  of  April  the  Society  gave  its  fifty- 
eighth  concert,  in  which  they  secured  the  services 
of  Signorina  Euphrasia  Borghese,  prima  donna,  and 
Signor  Luigi  Perozzi,  primo  tenore,  of  the  Italian 
Opera.     Signor  Casella,  violoncellist,  also  took  part. 

Ole  Bull  contributed  his  services  without  com- 
pensation at  its  fifty-ninth  concert,  Nov.  9,  1844, 
whereupon  the  Society  presented  to  him,  as  a  testi- 
monial of  its  gratitude,  a  medal  of  pure  gold,  with 
suitable  emblems  and  inscriptions,  and  constituted 
him  an  honorary  member  of  the  Society. 

Loewe's  oratorio  of  "  The  Seven  Sleepers,"  founded 
on  an  interesting  legend  of  the  early  days  of  Chris- 
tianity, was  rendered  by  the  Sacred  Musical  Society, 


25 


December  26,  in  the  hall  of  the  Musical  Fund  Society. 
The  vocal  parts  were  taken  by  Miss  Barry,  Mrs. 
Taylor,  Mr.  Barclay,  Mr.  Jacobs,  Mr.  J.  M.  Bird 
and  others ;  and  the  instrumental  by  Messrs.  Meignen, 
Cross,  Reinhart,  Rudolph,  Stolte,  L.  Rink,  Hsedrich, 
Wieland,  H.  Beck,  Kellner,  Elder,  Stoll,  F.  Rink, 
Stevenson  and  others.  This  concert  was  repeated 
March  25  of  the  following  year,  and  Miss  Barry,  a 
lady  of  distinguished  musical  abilities,  took  part  on 
both  occasions. 

January  28,  1845.  The  Society's  concert,  the 
sixtieth,  introduced  Signora  Pico,  her  first  appear- 
ance; Signors  Antognini  and  Sanquirico  were  also 
engaged.  In  the  next  concert  of  the  Society,  April 
17,  was  given  a  grand  military  sinfonia,  entitled 
"  The  Soldier's  Dream,"  by  Leopold  Meignen,  which 
was  received  with  much  favor  as  the  production  of 
an  esteemed  townsman. 

June  20  was  brought  out  the  opera  of  "  Leonora," 
by  Wm.  H.  Fry,  another  gifted  townsman.  The 
opera  was  given  with  a  grand  chorus  of  seventy 
ladies  and  gentlemen,  and  an  orchestra  of  fifty  in- 
struments, under  the  leadership  of  Leopold  Meignen. 
Its  rendition  may  be  regarded  as  the  musical  event 
of  the  year.  The  composer  was  ambitious  that  it 
should  be  successful,  and  no  expense  was  spared  to 
make  it  so.     Notwithstanding  this  and  the  engage- 


26 


ment  of  the  best  available  talent,  the  result,  upon 
the  whole,  was  a  disappointment. 

Professor  Horncastle  gave  a  concert  in  September, 
and  the  "  Fakir  of  Ava,"  with  his  legerdemain  per- 
formances, occupied  the  hall  for  one  week.  Faber's 
wonderful  automaton  was  exhibited  for  a  week  in 
*^  December,  and  Mr.  Templeton,  a  Scotch  tenor,  gave 
his  first  concert  immediately  after.  As  a  ballad- 
singer  he  was  greatly  admired. 

During  this  season  the  orchestra  of  the  Society 
performed  very  creditably  the  entire  Symphony  of 
Beethoven,  No.  1,  C  major,  which  is  ranked  as  one 
of  the  noblest  of  musical  compositions.  Eugene 
Provost,  a  musician  of  considerable  ability,  played  a 
descriptive  overture  of  the  battle  of  New  Orleans. 

1846.  Leopold  De  Meyer,  a  celebrated  pianist, 
gave  a  few  concerts,  assisted  by  Joseph  Burke,  better 
remembered  as  "  Master  Burke,'^  the  youthful  Roscius 
of  the  stage,  who  first  appeared  at  the  Arch  Street 
Theatre  Dec.  14,  1830.  As  a  violinist  he  was  re- 
garded as  but  a  mediocre  performer,  and  failed  utterly 
to  enkindle  the  enthusiasm  which  greeted  his  early 
performances  as  an  actor.  Henri  Herz  followed  De 
Meyer.  The  styles  of  these  two  distinguished  pianists 
were  in  strong  contrast,  and  represented  two  opposite 
schools.  A  very  remarkable  violinist  now  appeared, 
and  one  who  is  still  remembered  as  the  greatest  of 


27 


his  day,  Camillo  Sivori.  In  a  concert  given  by  him, 
Dec.  10,  he  was  assisted  by  F.  Rudolph,  H.  Thor- 
becke.  Miss  Julia  L.  Northall  and  Signor  De  Begnis. 

December  22.  The  Society  gave  a  concert,  engag- 
ing Signora  Pico  and  Herz. 

April  6, 1847.  The  Society  gave  its  sixty-fifth  con- 
cert, assisted  by  ladies  and  gentlemen  amateurs  of  the 
city.  This  was  the  last  concert  given  in  the  hall  prior 
to  important  improvements.  The  front  of  the  build- 
ing was  extended  sixteen  feet,  and  the  position  of  the 
stage  removed  from  the  front  to  the  rear.  These 
changes  happily  improved  the  acoustics  of  the  audi- 
torium, and  gave  additional  accommodations  to  the 
Society.  The  hall  was  enabled  now  to  seat  1500 
persons  comfortably.  The  expenses  of  these  altera- 
tions were  mostly  provided  for  by  the  proceeds  of  a 
grand  bazaar  fair,  conducted  by  the  leading  ladies  of 
society  in  the  city.  The  fair  continued  a  fortnight 
and  realized  about  $5000,  a  sum  which  almost  equalled 
the  cost  of  the  improvements.  These  improvements 
were  commenced  June  17,  and  finished  on  the  21st  of 
October  following.  The  bazaar  ball  was  one  of  the 
great  events  of  the  season,  and  was  for  a  long  time 
the  town-talk. 

1847.  Henry  Giles,  a  Unitarian  minister  of  marked 
critical  ability,  delivered  a  popular  course  of  lectures 
on  characters  of  Shakespeare.    Signor  Noronha  ap- 


28 


peared  in  concert.  Samuel  Lover,  the  author  of 
"  Handy  Andy "  and  other  Irish  novels,  novelist, 
song-writer  and  vocalist,  made  his  first  appearance. 

December  11.  Bochsa,  the  greatest  harpist  that 
had  ever  been  heard  in  America,  gave  a  concert  in 
which  Madame  Anna  Bishop  sang. 

January  1,  1848.  In  the  farewell  concert  given 
by  Madame  Anna  Bishop,  she  sang  in  costume  a 
grand  scena  from  "Tancredi"  and  "Guadalquivir.'' 
She  was  esteemed  a  good  artist,  possessing  a  high  so- 
prano voice.  She  was  the  wife  of  Sir  Henry  Bishop, 
a  distinguished  musical  composer.  Her  fine  soprano 
voice  was  cultivated,  it  is  said,  by  Bochsa.  Her  first 
appearance  in  public  was  in  London,  in  1839,  at  a 
concert  given  by  Bochsa,  in  which  she  shone  brightly 
amidst  a  galaxy  of  celebrities  consisting  of  Grisi, 
Pauline  Viardot-Garcia,  Persiani,  Rubini,  Tamburini 
and  Lablache.  All  sang  on  this  occasion.  Thalberg 
and  Dobler  presided  at  the  piano,  and  Bochsa  at  the 
harp. 

February  2.  The  Steyermarkische  Orchestra  ap- 
peared at  the  hall,  under  the  leadership  of  Riha. 

February  3.  The  Society  gave  its  sixty-sixth  con- 
cert. The  orchestra  presented  Mozart's  overture  to 
"  II  Flauto  Magico,"  and  Lindpaintner's  overture  to 
the  lyrical  drama  of  "  Lichtenstein."  The  vocal 
parts  were  sustained  by  a  number  of  ladies  and  gentle- 


29 


men  amateurs.  Mr.  Edward  L.  AYalker,  pianist, 
made  his  first  appearance  as  a  member  of  the  Society. 

March  25,  took  place  the  farewell  concert  of  the 
Italian  Opera  Company,  in  which  appeared  Signori 
Beneventano,  Rossi,  Corsi,  Benedetti,  Avignone,  Bel- 
lini and  Sanquirico,  the  buffo  cantato;  Signorina 
Truffi,  Amalia  Patti,  Signora  Biscaccianti  and  Lietti 
Corsi. 

April  3,  was  rendered  the  sixty-seventh  concert 
of  the  Society,  in  which  were  engaged  Biscaccianti, 
Sign  or  T.  Vietti,  Novel  lo  and  Halma.  Signora  Bis- 
caccianti, n^e  Ostrinelli,  was  born  in  America,  and 
made  her  debut  in  Philadelphia,  March  1,  in  "Lucia 
de  Lammermoor.^'  She  possessed  a  clear  soprano 
voice,  Avith  excellent  execution.  Signor  Novelli  had 
a  rich,  deep  bass,  round  and  full. 

May  25.  The  Society  gave  its  sixty-eighth  con- 
cert. On  this  occasion  Rossini's  "Stabat  Mater" 
was  performed,  the  vocal  parts  being  sustained  by 
Signor  Perelli,  first  tenor  of  the  Havana  Opera  Com- 
pany, and  Signor  Avignone,  first  baritone  of  the 
Astor  Place  Opera  Company,  New  York;  together 
with  the  amateur  members  of  the  Society. 

October  7.  The  Italian  Opera  gave  a  brilliant 
concert,  in  which  appeared  Signorina  Amalia  Patti, 
Benedetti,  Debreul,  Arnoldi,  Rosi,  Valtellina  and 
Giubelei.     A  portion  of  the  members  of  the  Society 


30 


assisted,  and  the  whole  comprised  an  orchestra  of 
sixty  performers  and  a  chorus  of  fifty  voices. 

August  19.     In  concert  appeared  Arditi,  violinist, 
and  Bottesini,  a  remarkable  performer  on  the  contra- 


October  17.  At  the  sixty-ninth  concert  appeared 
Mme.  and  Mons.  Laborde,  of  the  Royal  Opera,  Brus- 
sels, and  Maurice  Strakosch,  pianist  to  the  Emperor 
of  Russia. 

On  December  3,  1848,  was  given  the  first  concert 
of  the  Germania  Musical  Society,  from  Berlin.  This 
organization  was  composed  of  twenty-three  perform- 
ers, under  the  leadership  of  Carl  Lenshow.  Four 
consecutive  concerts  were  given  in  the  hall,  which, 
unfortunately,  were  not  successful.  The  pecuniary 
losses  attending  these  concerts  determined  the  mem- 
bers to  disband.  Some  went  to  New  York,  others 
r  to  Boston  and  Baltimore,  and  one  entered  the  United 
States  military  service  as  bandmaster.  Of  the  original 
orchestra  we  note  as  still  resident  among  us  Mr.  Carl 
^  r  Sentz,  whose  reputation  as  a  musical  director  is  so 
well  known,  and  Mr.  Carl  Plagemann,  the  "first 
horn.^^ 

The  Society  was  reorganized  under  the  leadership 
of  Carl  Bergmann,  and  for  many  years  subsequently 
gave  a  series  of  popular  concerts  in  the  hall. 

1849  proved  an  interesting  year  in  the  musical 


31 


history  of  the  Society.  Maretzek,  on  the  4th  of 
January,  gave  a  grand  festival,  introducing  all  the 
artists  of  his  popular  troupe,  Mme.  Laborde,  M.  La- 
borde,  Signor  Sanquirico,  Mr.  Kyle,  on  the  flut^, 
Herr  Lecroix,  Herr  Schreiver,  Signorina  Patti,  Sig- 
nor Novelli,  Signor  Dage,  Herr  Wind,  Signor  Mochi, 
with  the  opera  orchestra  and  the  Saxonia  band,  to 
which  was  added  a  part  of  the  orchestra  of  the  So- 
ciety. The  whole  was  under  the  direction  of  Max 
Maretzek.  The  trumpets  were  led  by  Herr  Wind 
and  Herr  Lecroix ;  violins,  viola  and  violoncello,  by 
Herr  Schreiver,  Simonson,  Hegeland  and  Eichorn. 

February  9,  the  Society  gave  its  seventieth  concert, 
having  engaged  the  talent  of  Mme.  Anna  Bishop, 
Signor  Natale  Perelli,  Bochsa,  harpist,  Diston  and 
his  three  sons,  the  celebrated  performers  on  the  silver 
Sax-horns  and  Sax-tubas. 

March  14,  Josef  Gung'l,  the  composer,  introduced 
his  famous  orchestra  of  twenty-six  performers.  In  a 
vocal  concert,  given  April  10,  Tedesco,  Rosina  Pico, 
Yietti  (C.  and  T.),  appeared.  Tedesco  at  once  w^as 
declared  a  prime  favorite.  Madame  Laborde  achieved 
her  laurels  in  Donizetti's  opera  of  "  L'Elisire  d'Amore," 
and  appeared  in  the  Society's  seventy-first  concert. 
May  24,  together  with  Yalentini,  Taffanelli  and  Carl 
Hohnstock. 

October   15.     In  the  seventy-second  concert  ap- 


32 


peared  Madame  Amanda  Berton,  prima  donna;  Mons. 
Berton  and  Signor  Vita,  of  the  Havana  Company; 
Luigi  and  Anniball  Elena,  violin  and  piano. 

Beginning  November  24,  there  were  given  several 
amateur  musical  soirees,  conducted  by  ladies  and 
gentlemen  amateurs,  with  a  full  orchestra  under  the 
direction  of  Sig.  Natale  Perelli. 

December  8.  Musical  Fund  Society's  seventy-third 
concert.  Truffi,  Carranti  Vita,  Benedetti,  Vita  and 
Rosi.  Signora  Truffi  and  Signor  Benedetti  were  ever 
received  with  fervent  applause,  if  not  with  furore, 
and  maintained  to  the  end  their  popularity.  After 
many  engagements  together  in  public  life,  they  en- 
tered into  a  more  private  engagement  of  their  own, 
and  were  soon  after  happily  married. 

Many  will  recall  with  pleasure  the  estimable  Hohn- 
stocks,  Carl  and  Adele,  brother  and  sister,  who  made 
their  home  in  this  city.  By  their  private  instruction 
on  violin  and  piano,  and  chamber  concerts,  they  con- 
tributed much  to  the  cultivation  of  a  pure  and  refined 
musical  taste. 

In  this  year  (May,  1849)  the  Society  lost  one  of 
its  oldest  members,  Benjamin  Carr,  who  for  a  long 
time  performed  in  the  orchestra.  By  a  strange  co- 
incidence, on  the  same  day  and  nearly  at  the  same 
hour,  his  wife  also  died.  They  had  passed  their  lives 
together,  and  in  death  were  not  divided.     They  were 


33 


buried  in  the  same  grave  and  at  the  same  time.  His 
portrait  is  preserved  in  the  hall  of  the  Society. 

May  30,  1850.  The  Society  gave  its  seventy- 
fourth  concert,  conducted  by  L.  Meignen.  The 
orchestra  performed  Mendelssohn's  "Midsummer 
Night's  Dream''  and  Weber's  "Euryanthe."  The 
vocal  parts  were  rendered  by  Madame  Bertucca,  Miss 
Caroline  Pintard,  Signor  Beneventano,  baritone,  and 
Master  Diez. 

September  3  was  eventful  in  that  the  illuminating 
gas  used  in  the  city  by  some  accident  went  out,  leav- 
ing the  city  in  comparative  darkness,  and  inflicting 
much  discomfort  on  the  crowds  gathered  in  our  places 
of  public  amusement. 

During  this  year  Jenny  Lind,  the  "Swedish  Night- 
ingale," arrived,  and  gave  her  first  concert  at  the 
Chestnut  Street  Theatre.  Her  terms  were  $1000 
per  night  and  all  expei^es  paid.  On  account  of  the 
smallness  of  the  theatre,  her  next  two  concerts  were 
given  at  the  Musical  Fund  Hall,  October  18  and  19, 
1850,  realizing  nearly  nineteen  thousand  dollars; 
and  other  concerts  followed,  November  27,  29  and  30. 
Her  last  concerts  took  place  in  the  same  hall,  De- 
cember 16,  19  and  22.  She  generously  contributed 
$400  to  the  funds  of  the  Society,  for  which  she  re- 
ceived a  resolution  of  thanks,  and  her  name  was 
enrolled  among  its  honorary  members.  Natale 
3 


34 


Perelli  accompanied  her  as  principal  tenor.  He 
made  Philadelphia  his  home  from  that  time  till  his 
death,  in  1867,  giving  instruction  in  vocal  music  to 
a  large  number  of  pupils.  An  artistic  monument 
erected  to  his  memory  in  Ijaurel  Hill  'OomotMa^  at- 
tests the  respect  of  his  many  friends  and  admirers. 

January  1,  1851.  Theresa  Parodi  gave  a  festival 
concert,  assisted  by  Mile.  Amalia  Patti,  Signors 
Lorini,  Posi  and  Avignone.  The  violinist,  Herr 
Griebel,  made  his  first  appearance  in  Philadelphia. 
The  orchestra  was  composed  of  fifty  instruments. 

April  24  was  given  the  seventy-sixth  concert  of 
the  Society,  at  which  appeared  Signora  Angiolina 
Bosio,  Signor  Bettini,  Signor  Cesare  Badiali,  all  mem- 
bers of  the  Havana  Italian  Opera  Company;  and 
Koppitz,  flutist. 

September  25.  Mile.  Parodi  gave  another  concert, 
supported  by  Amalia  Patti,  Strakosch,  Leonardi  and 
Master  Charles  M.  Schmitz,  the  youthful  violon- 
cellist ;  Maurice  Strakosch,  conductor. 

Miss  Catharine  Hayes,  a  singer  of  exquisite  taste 
and  feeling,  appeared  in  concert  Dec.  6  of  the  same 
year. 

Mention  should  here  be  made  of  the  Havana 
Italian  Opera  Troupe,  which  was  composed  of  the 
following  distinguished  artistes,  under  the  direction 
of  F.  Badiali :  Signorina  Balbina  Steifanoni,  Eliza 


35 


Costini,  Signora  L.  Bellini,  Signorina  Bosio,  Signora 
C.  Vietti,  Sig.  Domenico  Lorini,  F.  Badiali,  Ignazio 
Marini,  Colletti,  T.  Baritini,  L.  Martinelli,  Serverro 
Strini,  P.  Condi. 

October  21,  1851.  The  Committee  of  Music  re- 
ported adversely  to  the  giving  of  the  usual  three  con- 
certs, and  the  Board  accordingly  ordered  their  sus- 
pension. The  minutes  show  that  the  deficiency  or 
loss  sustained  by  the  Society  for  the  past  five  seasons, 
in  which  were  given  fifteen  concerts,  amounted  to 
$1669.91.  It  was  with  great  deliberation  the  Board 
decided  to  give  up  its  annual  concerts,  as  the  follow- 
ing extract  most  conclusively  shows : 

"  If  the  past  does  not  exhibit  a  fortunate  result  for 
the  interests  of  the  Society,  the  future  is  still  more 
gloomy  in  prospect  if  the  concerts  be  persisted  in. 
The  increased  and  increasing  demands  of  the  fre- 
quenters of  musical  entertainments  cannot  be  satisfied 
with  anything  less  than  the  leading  artists  of  the 
time ;  and  the  cost  of  engaging  such  talent  is  so  great 
that  the  Society  cannot  be  indemnified  at  the  present 
scale  of  prices.  The  charter  of  the  Society  declares 
two  essential  objects  for  which  the  corporation  was 
created,  one  of  which  is  the  cultivation  of  skill  and 
the  diffusion  of  taste  in  music.  At  the  date  of  the 
Society's  birth,  and  for  many  years  thereafter,  this 
object  was  efficiently  carried  out  by  the  concerts  and 


36 


musical  performances  of  its  professional  members. 
It  took  the  lead  in  musical  art,  and  did  much  in  form- 
ing and  encouraging  a  fondness  for  and  correct  taste 
in'  music.  But  its  usefulness  and  power  in  this  par- 
ticular have  been  superseded.  The  sources  are  so 
numerous  and  the  competition  so  full  in  the  depart- 
ment of  music  that  the  Society  can  no  longer  produce 
entertainments  to  vie  with  those  of  others,  and  its 
concerts  must  necessarily  be  inferior  to  those  under- 
taken by  private  enterprise. 

^^  It  has  been  thought  by  some  that  an  obligation 
to  the  life-members  of  the  Society  requires  that  a  cer- 
tain number  of  concerts  shall  be  regularly  given. 
Such  a  conclusion  is  not  founded  on  any  article  in 
either  the  Charter  or  the  By-laws. 

"It  is  not  believed  that  our  life-members,  after 
being  made  acquainted  with  the  situation  of  affairs 
and  the  unavoidable  losses  attendant  on  the  concerts, 
would  wish  to  listen  to  entertainments  which  greatly 
diminish  the  prospect  of  fulfilling  the  chief  purpose 
of  the  foundation,  namely,  ^the  relief  of  decayed 
musicians  and  their  families ' ;  nor  will  they,  we  feel 
confident,  claim  that  funds  so  sacred  in  their  creation 
and  object  should  be  squandered  for  their  amusement." 

1852.  June  3.  Parodi  gave  her  last  concert  in 
America,  assisted  by  Amalia  an^  Maurice  Strakosch, 
and  Miska  Hauser,  violinist. 


37 


September  21.  Signorina  Adelina  Patti,  not  yet 
eight  years  old,  styled  "  la  petite  Jenny  Lind/'  ap- 
peared in  concerts,  Avith  the  support  of  the  Strakoschs 
and  Miska  Hauser. 

September  27.     Mme.  Marietta  Alboni  appeared. 

October  14.  Mme.  Henrietta  Sontag  (Countess 
Rossi)  made  her  first  appearance,  supported  by  Sig. 
Badiali,  Paul  Julien,  violin,  Alfred  Jaell,  piano,  and 
the  Germania  Musical  Society.  Her  last  appearance 
in  the  hall  was  on  the  evening  of  November  26. 
This  beautiful  woman  and  delightful  singer  died  in 
Mexico,  June  18,  1864,  under  the  saddest  circum- 
stances, deeply  regretted  by  an  admiring,  music- 
loving  public. 

Upon  the  engagement  of  Mme.  Sontag  to  sing,  a 
delegation  of  the  Musical  Fund  Society  met  her  on 
her  arrival  at  the  wharf  at  Burlington,  N.  J.,  on  the 
Delaware  river,  and  escorted  her  to  this  city.  Mr. 
George  Campbell,  the  Secretary  of  the  Society,  made 
an  address  of  welcome,  which  was  gracefully  re- 
sponded to  by  Mme.  Sontag.  Refreshments  had 
been  amply  provided  on  board  the  steamboat;  and 
the  music  was  rendered  by  the  Germania  Orchestra. 
Badiali,  Rocco  (buffo),  Paul  Julien  and  Alfred  Jaell 
took  important  parts  in  the  programme.  The  recep- 
tion was  such  as  to  call  forth  the  most  enthusiastic 
acknowledgments  by  the  fair  songstress.      She  was 


38 


afterward  elected  an  honorary  member  of  the  So- 
ciety. 

December  3.  The  Society  gave  its  seventy-eighth 
concert.  The  overtures  were  Rossini^s  "Otello"  and 
Weber's  "  Ob^ron.'^  Mile.  Mina  Tourny,  mezzo-so- 
prano, Mile.  Louisa  Tourny,  contralto,  Mlle.Camille 
Urso,  violinist,  Signor  Giuseppe  Cortesi,  tenor,  and 
Signor  Giuseppe  Foghel,  violinist,  filled  up  the  pro- 
gramme. 

December  11.  A  concert  was  given  by  Mme. 
Henrietta  Sontag,  for  the  benefit  of  the  Society,  in 
which  she  w^as  assisted  by  the  following  artistes  of 
her  company :  Signor  G.  Pozzolini,  Signor  Rocco  and 
Paul  Julien. 

Madame  Stephani  appeared  also  about  this  time, 
and  the  English  basso,  John  Graham.  Lectures  were 
delivered  by  Elihu  Burritt,  "  the  learned  blacksmith," 
and  Park  Benjamin,  the  journalist. 

1853.  Lectures  were  given  in  the  hall  by  the 
novelist,  William  Makepeace  Thackeray,  and  Father 
Gavazzi,  the  Italian  reformer.  L.  Moreau  Gottschalk, 
the  pianist,  made  his  debut  March  1.  He  was  born 
in  New  Orleans  in  1828,  and  his  musical  career  in 
the  United  States  was  highly  prosperous.  His  com- 
positions enjoyed  for  a  long  period  a  remarkable 
popularity. 

June  26  appeared  Augustus  Braham,  son  of  the 


39 


celebrated  English  tenor  John  Braham,  whose  orig- 
inal patronymic  was  Abraham. 

May  15,  1854.  Paul  Julien,  a  violinist  of  ex- 
quisite taste,  gave  a  concert,  when  again  appeared 
the  youthful  Adelina  Patti,  who  won  all  hearts  by 
her  winning  ways  and  her  birdlike  voice,  giving 
promise  of  the  distinguished  career  which  awaited 
her.  She  rapidly  rose  to  be  the  leading  soprano  in 
Europe,  and  she  sang  in  Philadelphia  for  the  last 
time  in  the  winter  of  1884-5  with  the  greatest  ap- 
plause. 

January  10,  1855.  Under  the  management  of 
Strakosch  there  appeared  upon  our  lyric  stage  two 
vocalists  whose  reputation  will  never  die,  Madame 
Grisi  and  Signor  Mario. 

Felicita  Vestvali,  who  was  born  in  Cracow,  Feb. 
23,  1839,  made  her  debut  at  the  hall,  September  29, 
1855.  She  was  a  remarkable  woman,  speaking  in 
six  languages  and  playing  upon  several  musical  in- 
struments. Her  singing  was  appreciated  by  all  lovers 
of  music. 

Miss  Louisa  Pyne,  who,  at  the  early  age  of  five, 
exhibited  extraordinary  musical  gifts,  and  had  made 
a  successful  debut  at  a  concert  before  she  had  com- 
pleted her  tenth  year,  formed  an  English  opera  com- 
pany, together  with  Mr.  William  Harrison,  and  now 
appeared  in  concert. 


40 


June  6.  Madame  La  Grange  produced  a  deep  and 
lasting  impression  by  her  rich  and  wonderful  volume 
of  voice  and  admirable  vocalization. 

The  eighty-first  concert  of  the  Society  was  given 
the  29th  of  September,  with  the  aid  of  the  following 
artistes:  Mile.  Yestvali,  contralto;  Signor  Ceresa, 
tenor;  Signor  Bernard!,  baritone,  and  Herr  Schrei- 
ber,  cornet  player.  The  pecuniary  loss  attending  this 
fine  concert  was  $498.55.  Not  intimidated  by  this 
loss,  the  Society,  Dec.  1,  gave  its  eighty-second  con- 
cert, in  which  appeared  Miss  Hensler,  an  American 
prima  donna,  her  first  appearance;  Signorina  Aldini, 
her  first  appearance;  Signor  Brignoli,  from  the  Italian 
Opera,  Paris,  his  second  appearance  in  this  city ;  and 
L.  M.  Gottschalk,  pianist,  assisted  by  the  full  orches- 
tra of  the  Society,  conducted  by  Leopold  Meignen. 
The  pecuniary  loss  by  this  concert  was  $456.84. 

The  expenses  attending  the  concerts  and  oratorios 
given  by  the  Society  exhausted  its  resources,  and  it 
became  apparent  to  the  managers  that  every  succeed- 
ing concert  worthy  of  the  Society  must  increase  its 
embarrassment.  The  performers  of  any  acknowl- 
edged reputation  demanded  the  most  extravagant 
rates  of  compensation,  ranging  between  $100  and 
$500  a  night ;  and  only  the  most  celebrated  artistes 
could  fill  the  hall.  Under  these  circumstances  money 
was  borrowed  upon  bond  and  mortgage,  to  extricate 


41 


the  Society  from  its  financial  embarrassment,  and  to 
provide  for  the  relief  of  its  beneficiaries. 

During  the  many  years  of  its  existence  the  Society 
has  received,  we  believe,  but  a  single  legacy,  and  that 
for  §1500,  from  Pierre  Autoine  Blenon,  which  was 
paid  in  installments  in  the  years  1843  and  1844.  Dr. 
John  Rhea  Barton,  Sept.  28,  1847,  made  a  donation 
of  $100,  and  in  1851,  Jenny  Lind,  as  we  have  already 
stated,  presented  to  the  Society  |400  in  aid  of  its 
funds. 

1856.  The  Society  ordered  to  be  painted  the  por- 
traits of  Dr.  Wm.  P.  Dewees  and  Dr.  Robert  M. 
Patterson,  former  presidents;  together  with  that  of 
George  Campbell,  its  late  secretary,  who  for  twenty- 
seven  years  had  most  faithfully  performed  all  the 
duties  of  his  office.  Dr.  Patterson  was  one  of  the 
founders  of  the  Society,  and  one  of  its  warmest,  most 
steady  and  efficient  supporters.  He  resigned  only 
when,  in  1853,  his  failing  health  had  disabled  him 
from  watching  over  its  interests. 

April  10.  The  Society  gave  its  eighty-third  con- 
cert, in  w^hich  appeared  Madame  Anna  La  Grange, 
Signor  Brignoli  and  Signor  Amodio ;  Perelli,  piano. 
The  loss  by  this  concert  was  $183.35,  making  the 
total  loss  of  $1138.74  as  the  result  of  these  three 
concerts. 

In  September,  1856,  an  orchestra  was  formed  in 


42 


this  city  consisting  of  twenty-eight  professional  mem- 
bers. As  many  of  these  members  had  been  formerly 
connected  with  the  Germania  Musical  Society,  it  was 
proposed  to  give  to  this  organization  the  name  of  the 
Germania  Orchestra^  which  it  retains  to  this  day, 
under  the  leadership  of  Charles  M.  Schmitz. 

Their  last  public  rehearsal  was  given  May  4, 1868, 
at  the  Musical  Fund  Hall.  A  new  series  of  rehears- 
als has  been  inaugurated,  and  continued  to  the  present 
time,  at  the  Academy  of  the  Fine  Arts. 

The  Orchestra  gave  their  public  rehearsals  on  Sat- 
urday afternoons  in  the  hall,  for  many  years,  at  very 
reduced  prices  of  admission,  —  packages  of  eight 
tickets  being  sold  for  one  dollar.  While  conferring 
great  benefit  and  delight  to  the  musical  public,  it  is 
to  be  regretted  that,  in  a  pecuniary  point  of  view, 
the  concerts  were  productive  of  no  profit  to  the  Or- 
chestra. 

November  25.  The  eighty-fourth  concert  was 
given  with  very  much  the  same  leading  voices ;  the 
aim  of  the  Society  being  to  maintain  its  high  stand- 
ard of  music,  though  at  the  increasing  risk  of  pecu- 
niary loss. 

April  25,  1857.  The  Society  gave  its  eighty-fifth 
concert,  at  which  appeared  Madame  Gazzaniga  and 
Signori  Brignoli  and  Arnoldi,  supported  by  the  full 
orchestra  of  the  Society. 


43 


We  pause  in  this  sketch  to  throw  a  wreath  upon 
the  fresh  grave  of  Signor  Pasquale  Brignoli,  who 
died  in  the  city  of  New  York,  October  30,  1884. 
He  made  his  first  appearance  in  Philadelphia,  Jan. 
14, 1856,  in  the  opera  of  "  II  Trovatore,"  in  the  Wal- 
nut Street  Theatre,  with  Madame  Anna  La  Grange, 
Mile.  Nantier  Didiee  and  Signor  Amodio.  He  re- 
tained his  beautiful  tenor  voice  for  more  than  thirty 
years,  during  which  he  sang  with  Parepa,  La  Grange, 
Piccolomini,  Kellogg,  Albani,  Nilsson,  Di  Murska, 
Van  Zandt,  and  all  the  great  prime  donne  who  have 
visited  our  shores.  He  made  this  country  his  place 
of  residence,  though  for  many  years  he  was  the 
leading  tenor  in  London  and  Paris. 

The  advent  of  Madame  Gazzaniga  upon  the  lyric 
stage  produced  a  marked  sensation.  She  at  once  be- 
came an  established  favorite,  and  was  the  first  soprano 
to  inaugurate,  on  February  25,  1857,  the  opening  of 
the  new  opera  house — the  American  Academy  of 
Music  on  Broad  Street.  Her  marble  bust  graces  the 
foyer  of  the  building,  placed  there  in  honor  of  that 
occasion. 

In  April  was  brought  out,  under  the  auspices  of 
the  Society,  the  cantata  of  the  ^'  Cities  of  the  Plain," 
composed  by  Mr.  F.  T.  S.  Darley,  a  member  of  the 
Society. 

May  28.    The  eighty-sixth  concert  was  given  with 


44 


the  aid  of  Madame  Isidora  Clark,  Signori  Brignoli 
and  Amodio,  and  Herr  Appy,  harpist.  This  being 
the  last  concert  given  by  the  Society,  we  append  the 
full  programme  as  a  reminiscence  of  the  past. 


MUSICAL  FUND  SOCIETY. 

EIGHTY-SIXTH  CONCERT. 

Third  of  the  Season,  1856-57. 


The   Managers  of  the  Musical  Fund  Society  have  the 
honor  to  announce  that  the 

LAST  CONCERT 

of  the  season  will  be  given  at  their  hall,  on 

Thursday  Evening,  May  28,  1857, 
for  which  occasion  they  have  engaged  the  following  distinguished 
Artistes : 
Madame  Isidora  Clark, 

SiGNOR  Brignoli, 

SiGNOR  Amodio,  and 

Herr  Henri  Appy, 

Solo  Violinist  to  the  King  of  Holland. 
Assisted  by  the  Full  Orchestra  of  the  Society. 


L.  Meignen,  Conductor. 


Single  Tickets,         .         .         .         One  Dollar  each. 
Seats  can  be   secured  without  extra  charge,  at  the  hall,  on 
Tuesday,  Wednesday  and  Thursday,  from  9  a.m.  to  6  p.m. 
Carriages  will  set  down  heads  east  and  take  up  heads  west. 
Doors  open  at  7.     Concert  to  commence  at  8  o'clock. 


46 


PEOGEAMME. 

PART   FIRST. 

1.  Jubilee  Overture,        .        .        .         .         C.  31.  Von  Weber. 

Full  Orchestra. 

2.  Duo — "  Ola  bella  immantimente," — "  Betly,"    .       Donizetti. 

SiG.  Brigxoli  and  Sig.  Amodio. 

3.  Gran   Scena  e  Cavatina — "Anch'io   dischiuso," — 

Nabucco, Vei'di. 

Madame  Isidora  Clark. 

4.  Aria — "  Yieni  la  mia  Vendetta," — "  Lucrezia  Bor- 

gia,"         Donizetti. 

SiGNOR  Amodio. 

5.  ^-  p^ale*^'  I S^c^n^  ^^^"^  Concerto,        .  Mendelssohn. 

Henri  Appy. 

6.  Eomanza, Lillo. 

SiGNOR   BrIGNOLI. 

7.  Cavatina — "The   Lost    Birdling,"    composed    ex- 

pressly for  Mme.  Isidora  Clark,     .         .         .      Centemeri. 
Madame  Isidora  Clark. 


PART  second. 

8.  Overture — "The  Merry  Wives  of  Windsor"  (first 

time  in  this  city), Otfo  Nicolai. 

Full  Orchestra. 

9.  Eomanza — "A  sperar  non  mai  poss'io,"     .         M.  De  Gosio. 

SiGNOR  Amodio. 

10.  Grand  Waltz  in  Bravura, Venzano. 

Madame  Isidora  Clark. 

11.  Eomanza — "La  brezza  allegia  interno" — I  Vespri 

Siciliani, Verdi. 

SiGNOR   BrIGNOLI. 


46 


12.  II  Tremolo — Grand  Fantasia  for  Violin,    .         .     De  Beriot. 

Henri  Appy. 

13.  Trio— "Attila," Verdi. 

Madame  Isidora  Clark,  Sig.  Brignoli  and  Sig.  Amodio. 


September  25,  1857.  A  grand  concert  was  given 
by  Vieuxtemps,  Thalberg,  Mme.  D'Angri  and  Rocco; 
and  December  19  another  grand  concert  was  given 
by  D'Angri  and  Vieuxtemps,  assisted  by  Mile. 
Carioli,  Signors  Labocetta  and  Gassen. 

From  this  time  the  hall  w^as  mainly  rented  for 
lectures,  assemblies,  balls,  parties  and  miscellaneous 
concerts.  In  these  concerts  frequently  reappeared 
Elena  D'Angri,  Thalberg,  pianist  and  composer, 
Kopta  and  Vieuxtemps,  violinists,  and  Parepa  and 
other  favorites,  who  rarely  failed  to  fill  the  hall. 

Among  the  lecturers  we  mention  Rev.  Henry  Giles, 
Rev.  Henry  Ward  Beecher,  George  W.  Curtis,  Ed- 
ward Everett,  Rev.  Dr.  Chapin  and  John  B.  Gough. 
Lectures  were  also  given  by  Ralph  Waldo  Emerson, 
Rev.  Dr.  Tiffany,  Bishop  Stevens  and  "  Adirondack '' 
Murray,  and  at  other  times  by  Dr.  Isaac  Hayes,  who 
had  just  returned  from  his  Arctic  expedition ;  George 
Francis  Train,  "  Artemus  Ward''  Brown,  and  Edwin 
P.  Whipple,  the  distinguished  critic  and  essayist. 

Lola  Montez  and  Frezzolini  appeared  about  this 
time.  The  latter  gave  a  concert  November  13. 
Frezzolini  was  a  German  soprano  of  some  reputa- 


47 

tion  in  her  day,  and  was  the  most  popular  opera 
singer  in  Paris.  Her  death  has  been  reported  as 
occurring  quite  lately,  at  the  age  of  sixty. 

The  Society  lost  one  of  its  oldest  and  most  re- 
spected members— Mr.  Benjamin  Cross.  He  was 
born  September  15,  1786,  and  received  his  musical 
education  from  Benjamin  Carr.  He  was  the  organist 
in  St.  Mary's  (Roman  Catholic)  Church  in  1808. 
His  first  appearance  as  a  public  singer  was  in  1810, 
in  an  oratorio  given  at  St.  Augustine's  (Roman 
Catholic)  Church.  He  became  one  of  the  founders 
of  the  Musical  Fund  Society  in  1820,  and,  together 
with  Benjamin  Carr  and  Thomas  Loud,  conducted 
the  vocal  department  of  the  Society.  He  sang  in  the 
oratorio  of  the  ^'  Creation,''  June  10,  1822,  given 
at  AYashington  Hall ;  again  at  the  opening  of  the 
Musical  Fund  Hall,  in  Locust  Street,  December  29, 
1824,  in  Handel's  "Dettingen  Te  Deum";  and  in 
the  oratorio  of  the  "  Messiah,"  performed  April  30, 
1828.  He  was  elected  a  manager  of  the  Society, 
May  2,  1820,  and  Avas  ever  a  zealous  member.  He 
died  March  1,  1857,  in  the  seventy-first  year  of  his 
age. 

By  resolution  of  the  Board,  the  portraits  of  Judge 
John  K.  Kane  and  Benjamin  Cross  were  painted  by 
Thomas  Sully  for  the  Society.  Judge  Kane  was 
one  of  the  earliest  and  most  ardent  members  of  the 

/2t  ZJ^^-V  ^>'^<r>r,   vTL 


48 


Society,  and  was  one  of  the  committee  appointed  to 
draft  its  constitution,  in  1820.  He  first  served  as 
Secretary,  then  as  Yice-president,  and  then  as  Presi- 
dent. 

In  this  year,  also,  the  Board  signified  its  apprecia- 
tion of  the  faithful  services  of  its  Treasurer,  Mr. 
Francis  Gurney  Smith,  by  ordering  his  portrait  to 
be  painted  and  placed  among  those  of  other  founders 
and  benefactors  of  the  Society.  Mr.  Smith  served 
the  Society  for  forty-three  years,  carefully  managing 
its  funds  and  contributing  largely  to  its  success. 

The  opening  of  the  Academy  of  Music  virtu- 
ally ended  the  public  musical  performances  of  the 
Musical  Fund  Society.  Operas  proved  more  attract- 
ive than  concerts.  Prime  donne  appeared  to  more 
advantage  on  the  stage,  with  the  accessories  of  cos- 
tume and  scenery,  than  upon  the  platform  of  the  con- 
cert-room. And  with  this  year  began  a  new  policy 
of  the  Society.  Guided  by  the  experience  of  the 
past,  and  influenced  by  the  former  action  of  the 
Board  under  similar  circumstances,  it  was  deemed 
expedient  to  discontinue  the  regular  concerts  of  the 
Society,  in  order  to  carry  out  successfully  one  of  its 
primary  objects,  namely,  ^^the  relief  of  decayed 
musicians  and  their  families.'' 

In  the  retrospect  of  this  history  of  the  Society, 
we  believe  that  the  labors  of  the  managers  for  the 


49 


cultivation  of  a  pure  taste  and  the  diffusion  of  a 
greater  love  of  music  among  all  classes  of  the  com- 
munity have  not  been  in  vain.  It  may  not  be  proper 
at  this  time  to  do  more  than  allude  to  the  beneficial 
operations  of  the  Society  in  relieving  its  professional 
members  and  their  families  from  the  evils  incident 
to  poverty,  sickness  and  old  age.  Many  have  been 
the  prayers  and  grateful  thanks  of  the  widows  and 
orphans  who  have  been  most  liberally  provided  for 
under  its  sheltering  arms.  More  than  one  hundred 
thousand  dollars  have  been  thus  expended. 

Since  its  organization  the  whole  number  of  pro- 
fessional members  reaches  149,  and  of  amateur  and 
honorary  members  1171.  At  present  the  Society 
numbers  16  professional  and  49  amateur  members. 

Mention  should  be  made  here  of  the  long  and 
faithful  service  of  our  late  Superintendent,  Mr. 
Thomas  J.  Beckett.  Mr.  Beckett  became  connected 
with  the  Society  in  1834,  and  remained  in  office  till 
1880,  when  bodily  infirmities  and  impaired  health 
obliged  him  to  decline  a  re-election.  In  accepting 
his  resignation,  the  Board  tendered  to  him  the  free 
use  of  the  dwelling  so  long  occupied  by  him,  and 
passed  the  following  complimentary  resolutions  : 

^^  Resolved,  That  the  Board  of  Directors  of  the 
Musical  Fund  Society,  in  accepting  the  resignation 
of  Mr.  Thomas  J.  Beckett  as  Superintendent  of  the 
4 


50 


hall,  expresses  regret  that  failing  health  has  com- 
pelled an  old,  faithful  and  much-respected  servant  to 
withdraw  from  that  employment. 

"  For  nearly  one  half  century  he  has  discharged 
his  important  trust  with  singular  fidelity,  always 
showing  devotion  to  the  best  interests  of  the  Society. 
The  Board  reluctantly  accedes  to  the  request  of  Mr. 
Beckett,  and  hopes  that  he  may  live  to  see  many 
years  of  prosperity  and  happiness." 

The  future  of  the  Society  time  alone  can  disclose. 
Its  work  is  not  yet  done.  We  believe  that  it  may 
yet  be  possible  to  repeat,  under  better  auspices,  the 
experiment  made  so  unsuccessfully  in  its  earlier 
history — namely,  the  establishment  of  an  academy 
for  instruction  in  vocal  and  instrumental  music,  with 
a  corps  of  accomplished,  competent  and  well-trained 
teachers.  The  further  accumulation  of  funds  for  this 
object  may  be  desired  by  the  management,  and  this 
may  in  some  respects  decide  its  future  policy.  Mean- 
while, care  is  exercised  to  protect  and  increase  its 
funds,  and,  under  the  generous  provisions  of  its 
by-laws,  minister  to  its  disabled  professional  mem- 
bers and  their  respective  families. 


51 


LIST  OF  OFFICERS  OF  THE   MUSICAL 
FUND  SOCIETY. 


PRESIDENTS. 

William  P.  Dewees,  M.D.,       . 

1820  to  1838 

Robert  M.  Patterson,  M.D.,     . 

.     1838  "  1853 

Robley  Dunglison,  M.D., 

1853  "  1854 

John  K.  Kane, 

.     1854  "  1856 

Robley  Dunglison,  M.D., 

1856  "  1869 

Franklin  Peale, 

1869  "  1870 

Richard  J.  Dunglison,  M.D.,  . 

.     1870. 

VICE-PRESIDENTS. 

Robert  M.  Patterson,  M.D.,    . 

1820  to  1829 

John  K.  Kane, 

1829  "  1834 

William  H.  Keating,  M.D.,    . 

1834  "  1836 

Robert  M.  Patterson,  M.D.,     . 

1836  "  1838 

John  K.  Kane, 

1838  "  1850 

Robley  Dunglison,  M.D., 

1850  "  1853 

Elkanah  W.  Keyser, 

1853  "  1854. 

Pierce  Butler, 

1854  "  1855 

Robley  Dunglison,  M.D., 

1855  "  1856 

Elkanah  W.  Keyser, 

1856  "  1860 

52 


Thomas  Sully, 
Frederick  A.  Klemm, 
Charles  F.  Stolte,    . 
William  L.  Mactier, 


1860  to  1873. 
1873  "  1876. 
1876  "  1881. 
1881. 


TREASURERS. 


Daniel  Lamont, 
Francis  Gurney  Smith, 
William  L.  Mactier, 
Theodore  Starr, 
John  T.  Jones, 


SECRETARIES. 


John  K.  Kane, 
William  Mcllhenny, 
Joseph  W.  Houston, 
George  Campbell,    . 
Louis  C.  Madeira,  . 
William  L.  Dunglison, 
James  Y.  Patterson,  M.D., 


1820. 
1820  to  1864. 
1864  "  1880. 
1880  "  1884. 
1884. 


1820  to  1821. 


1821 
1822 

1827 
1856 

1858 
1872. 


"  1822. 
"  1827. 
"  1856. 
"  1858. 
"  1872.^ 


63 


LIST  OF  OIL  PORTRAITS  IN  THE  HALL 
OF  THE  MUSICAL  FUND  SOCIETY. 


1.  Benjamin  Carr. 

Painted  by  J.  C.  Darley,  1831. 

2.  George  Schetky. 

Painted  by  J.  C.  Darley. 

3.  Mrs.  Julia  Wood,  as  Amina  in  the 

opera  of  "  La  Sonnambula.'^ 

Painted  by  John  Neagle,  1848, 
and  presented  by  Dr.  Joseph 
Togno. 

4.  George  Campbell. 

Painted  by  T.  Sully,  1856. 

5.  Dr.  William  P.  Dewees. 

Painted  by  T.  Sully,  1856. 

6.  Dr.  Robert  M.  Patterson. 

Painted  by  T.  Sully,  1856. 

7.  Francis  Gurney  Smith. 

Painted  by  T.  Sully,  1857. 


54 

8.  John  K.  Kane. 

Painted  by  T.  Sully,  1861. 

9.  Benjamin  Cross. 

Painted  by  T.  Sully,  1861. 

10.  Thomas  Sully. 

Painted  by  himself,  1867. 

11.  Dr.  Robley  Dunglison. 

Painted  by  T.  Sully,  1868. 

12.  Franklin  Peale. 

Painted  by  T.  Sully,  1868. 


T^^e  Officers  and  Directors  of  the 
Musical  Fund  Society,  are  respectfully  invited  to 
attend  the  funeral  of 

THOMAS  J.  BECKETT, 

late  Superintendent,  from  their  Hall  on  Locust 
Street  above  Eighth,  on  Wednesday  nejot,  at 
11  A.  M. 


THE 

Musical  Fund 
Society. 


•»^>j^»«^#tf^ 


SOUVENIR  OF  OCTOBER  28,  1891 


Descriptive  Souvenir 

GOMMEMORMIVE  OF  THE  OPENING 
OF  THE 

MUSICAL  FUND  HALL, 

NO.  m  LOCUST  STREET, 
PHILADELPHIA. 


FOR  THE  SEASON  OF  1591-1892. 


PRESIDENT, 
R.  J.  Dunglison,  M.  D. 

VICE-PRESIDENT, 
Chas.  P.  Turner,  M.  D. 


SECRETARY, 
James  V.  Patterson,  M.  D. 


TREASURER, 
John  T.  Jones. 


SOLICITOR, 
Wm.  Henry  Lex. 


SUPERINTENDENT, 
Charles  F.  Heaton. 


BOARD  OF  DIRECTORS. 


Wm.  B.  Atkinson,  M.  D., 
Charles  P   Turner,  M.  D., 
R.  J.  Dunglison,  M.  D., 
James  V.  Patterson,  M.  D., 
John  T.  Jones, 
P.  C.  Hollis, 
Wm.  Henry  Lex, 
George  P.  Kimball, 
Frederick  W.  Fotterall, 
A.  C.  Lambdin,  M.  D., 
Robert  P.  Robins,  M.  D., 
Murray  Gibson, 


Ge"rg-e  Bastert, 
A.  Kornderfer, 
Wm.  Stoll,  Sr., 
Sep.  Winner, 
Harry  G.  Clay, 
George  E.  Peabody, 
N.  Dubois  Miller, 
John  H.  Carr, 
Charles  M.  Schmitz, 
George  C.  Harrison, 
William  S.  Robinson. 


'»^  ;«' 


ENTERTAINMENT  COMMITTEE. 

George  P.  Kimball,   Chairvtaii. 
A.  C.  Lambdin,  M.  D.,  .  Charles  M.  Schmitz, 

George  C.  Harrison,  John  H.  Carr. 


Programme. 

Part  I 

UNDER  MR.  SIMON  HI188LER,  GONDUGTOR. 


1.  Pas  Redouble — "  Eu  Avant'' Gungl 

2.  Overture — "  La  Gazza  Ladra  " Rossitii 

3.  Grand  Selection — "  Aida  " Verdi 

4.  Intermezzo Delibes 

5.  Larghetto — from  Second  Sj^mpliony Beelhove?i 

6.  Salterella Gounod 

7.  Gavotte — "Hildegarde" Geo.  P.Kimball 

8.  Waltz — "Editorial^' Johann  Strauss 


Part  II 

UNDER  MR.  CHARLES  M.  SCHMITZ,  GONDUGIOR. 

9.  Marche  aux  Flambeaux Meyerbeer 

10.  lyoin  du  Bal     Gillel 

11.  Polka — "  Gambrinus  " Bial 

12.  Grand  Selection — "  Der  Freiscliutz  "        ■  •  •    Von  Weber 

13.  Waltz — "  Convent  Echoes  " Le  Thieve 

14.  Selection— "  Ivoh  en  grin  " Wagner 

15.  Polka — ''Journalist" Simon  Hassler 

16.  March — "Wedding" Mendelssohn 


^T^he  Musical  Fund  Society,  through  its  Building- 
/^^  Committee,  has  thought  the  occasion  of  the  re- 
^*-^  opening  of  the  Hall,  with  all  its  new  decorations 
and  advantages,  for  the  Season  of  1891-1892,  to  be 
a  fitting  opportunity  to  issue  this  Descriptive  Souvenir, 
not  only  for  the  purpose  of  making  a  public  announce- 
ment, but  also  to  commemorate  the  event.  The  following 
description  of  the  alterations  and  changes  which  have 
taken  place  during  the  past  summer  will,  it  is  believed, 
be  found  interesting  to  the  many  friends  of  the  Society, 
and  at  the  same  time  be  acceptable  as  a  souvenir  of  the 
evening. 

The  present  improvements  were  first  proposed  to  the 
Directors  at  a  stated  meeting  held  in  January,  1891,  and 
from  that  time  the  Board  have  been  practically  unani- 
mous in  the  efforts  to  rejuvenate  the  property  of  the 
Society.  The  original  proposition  included  the  appoint- 
ment of  a  "Building  Committee"  of  five,  who  were 
authorized  to  secure  the  services  of  a  competent  archi- 
tect, and  with  his  assistance  to  construct  or  devise  a 
plan  and  offer  suggestions  for  such  alterations  and  decor- 
ations as  would  carry  into  effect  the  ideas  approved  of 
by  the  Board  of  Directors,  reporting  the  same  at  the 
fallowing  stated  meeting.     The  Committee  consisted  of: 

Mr.  George  P.  Kimball,  Chairman. 

Dr.  Richard  J.  Dunglison. 

Dr.  CharlKvS  p.  Turner. 

Mr.  William  Henry  Lex. 

Mr.  Murray  Gibson. 

Mr.  William  S.  Robinson. 

The  Committee  were  most  enthusiastic  as  to  the 
purpose  of  their  appointment  and  at  once  entered  into  a 
full  consideration  of  the  whole  subject. 

Mr.  Addison  Hutton,  a  gentleman  too  well  and 
favorably  known  to  all  Philadelphians  (and  especially  to 


those  in  his  own  profession)  to  need  any  complimentary 
remarks  at  this  time,  was  selected  as  the  Architect,  and 
the  Committee  feel  assured  that  the  appointment  was 
in  every  way  a  most  judicious  one. 

Many  meetings  were  held  and  many  suggestions 
discussed,  but  finally  a  full  set  of  plans — including 
needed  alterations  to  the  building,  an  annex  and 
numerous  other  changes  in  regard  to  lighting,  decora- 
tions, etc  — were  presented  to  the  Directors  at  a  meeting 
held  in  May. 

The  plans  as  presented  and  explained  were  at  once 
approved  and  accepted,  and  full  authority  was  given 
to  the  Building  Committee  to  act  in  the  matter.  The 
Committee,  through  the  architect,  Mr.  Hutton,  received 
proposals  from  builders,  artisans  and  others  to  do  the 
work,  the  contracts  of  the  following  gentlemen  or  firms 
being  accepted  : 

1.  Jacob  Myers,  No.  13 15  Sansom  Street,  for  all  alter- 

ations and  annex  building. 

2.  John  Gibson,  No.  123  South  Eleventh  Street,  for  all 

the  painting  and  decorations.     Mr.  Murray  Gibson 
representing  the  firm. 

3.  The  De  Kosenko  &  Hetherington  Manufactur- 

ing Company,  No.  808  Sansom  Street,  for  all  the 
gas  fixtures  and  electroliers. 

4.  The  Novelty  EivECTric  Company,  No.   50  North 

Fourth   Street,   for  all   wiring   for  electric  lights 
and  electric  lighting  of  gas. 


Attention    is  particularly  called  to  the  following 
changes  in  the  building  : 

Tl?e  FroQt. 

•  he  entire  front  of  the  Hall  will  be  new  ;  a  combina- 
tion of  buff  brick,  terra-cotta  facings  and  copper 
cornices,  having  been  most  artivStically  used  by 
the  architect,  the  general  result  being  a  very  bright 
and  effective  front,  not  only  ornamental  and  dignified,  but 
in  excellent  good  taste,  and  with  first-class  wearing  quali- 


ties.  New  windows  have  been  made  in  the  two  office- 
rooms  on  the  first  floor.  The  steps  at  the  main  entrance, 
which  formerly  occupied  one-half  the  pavement,  have 
been  set  back,  so  that  all  but  three  of  the  steps  are  now 
within  the  front  building  line.  This  improvement  is 
mOvSt  useful  on  account  of  the  increased  facility  for  exit. 


pirst  pioor  Qorridor. 

pon  entering  the  building,  the  first  noticeable 
changes  are  the  two  entirely  new  stairways 
leading  to  the  Main  Saloon  on  the  second  floor. 
Formerly,  as  most  of  our  patrons  wnll  remember, 
there  were  two  flights  to  each  stairway,  as  now,  but  the 
stairs  of  the  second  flight  all  converged  to  a  point, 
giving,  on  account  of  this  fault,  only  one-half  use  of  the 
flight,  besides  making  a  most  dangerous  mode  of  exit. 
This,  as  will  be  seen,  has  been  corrected,  and  now  the 
second  flight  is  of  full  width — each  stair  being  the  same 
— and  the  top  landing  on  a  level  with  the  floor  of  the 
Main  Saloon,  doing  away  with  the  single  odd  step 
directly  at  the  entrance  door. 

The  centre  partition  and  all  the  sides  are  finished  in 
hard  wood,  and  open  brass  grille-work  has  been  used  in 
completing  the  upper  half  of  the  partition — in  this  way 
giving  ventilation  and  a  greater  diffusion  of  the  light 
from  one  vStairway  to  the  other.  The  effect  will  be  noticed 
by  everyone. 

U/aiti 95-1^00(1)  for  Cadies, 

his  room,  on  the  right  of  the  entrance  corridor,  is 
51  feet  long  and  22  feet  wide.  It  has  seating 
capacity  for  about  two  hundred  (200)  pensons,  and 
could  be  used  for  small  meetings  or  entertain- 
ments. In  the  event  of  a  Ball  or  Assembly  it  is  used 
as  a  "Waiting-room  for  Ladies,"  and  has  all  the  requi- 
site toilet  conveniences  for  their  welfare  and  comfort.  A 
large  wardrobe  for  wraps  and  clothing  is  connected  with 


this  room.  The  room  has  been  entirely  replastered, 
painted,  decorated  and  furnished  with  new  gas  fixtures 
and  electroliers. 

U/aitii}(j-I^oo/n  for  CjentlefTiei}. 

>^7Miis  room,  on  the  left  of  the  entrance  corridor,  is 
/^\  quite  large  and  has  a  commodious  wardrobe,  for 
^-^  the  storing  of  wraps  and  coats,  connected  with  it, 
also  toilet  rooms,  etc.  In  the  event  of  a  Ball, 
it  can  be  used  as  a  Gentleman's  Refreshment-room.  It 
has  just  been  painted,  decorated,  and  new  gas  fixtures 
introduced, 

^      Jl^e  Bapqijet  I^oom. 

/^^t  the  extreme  end  of  the  entrance  corridor  is  the 
In/  Banquet-room,  the  second  largest  saloon,  which 
1^  has  been  lengthened  about  thirty  (30)  feet,  mak. 
ingthe  saloon  eighty-seven  (87)  feet  long  and 
thirty  (30)  feet  wide,  with  a  seating  capacity  for  four 
hundred  (400)  persons.  A  small  stage  has  been  erected 
at  the  western  end,  with  a  private  exit  door  for  perform- 
ers. This  saloon  is  an  excellent  one  for  small  parlor  con- 
certs, small  entertainments,  meetings,  and  for  banquets, 
dinners  and  suppers.  In  the  latter  cases  a  regular 
kitchen,  with  complete  range  and  cooking  facilities,  is 
directl}^  connected  with  the  saloon  ;  and  this  advantage, 
together  with  use  of  the  "  Waiting  room  for  Ladies" 
as  a  place  for  guests  to  assemble,  makes  a  very  complete 
suite  of  rooms  for  such  entertainments.  The  room  has 
been  entirely  painted  and  newly  decorated,  new  gas  fix- 
tures and  electroliers  being  introduced. 


fn  considering  the  alterations  and   improvements,  it 
was  decided  that  an    "Annex  Building"  on   the 
adjoining  premises  (owned  by  the  Society)    would 
be  an  advantage.     This  idea  has  been  carried  into 
effect,  and  the  result  is  a  two-story  brick  building  which 


not  only  gave  thirty  (30)  feet  additional  length  to  the 
Banquet  room,  but  enabled  the  architect  to  provide  three 
Parlors  or  Reception-rooms  on  the  second  floor,  en  suite, 
and  having  direct  connection  with  the  Main  Saloon. 
Two  of  these  parlors  are  on  a  level  with  the  floor  of  the 
Main  Saloon  ;  the  third  is  five  feet  higher,  on  a  level 
with  the  floor  of  the  stage.  It  is  the  intention  to  use 
this  last  described  room  as  a  private  room  for  Prima 
Donnas,  or  leading  artists,  during  performances,  as  direct 
entrance  to  the  stage  can  be  made  from  it,  and  the  room 
has  been  furnished  with  this  purpose  in  view.  All  the 
rooms  have  been  newly  furnished  and  decorated  and 
will  be  found  most  attractive.  These  parlors  are  to  be 
rented  or  not,  with  a  rental  of  the  Main  Saloon.  For  an 
Assembly  or  Ball,  the  advantage  of  three  such  retiring 
rooms  for  conversation  or  rest  will  be  appreciated  by 
all. 


Jbe  fT)ai9  Salooi}. 

his  Saloon,  which  has  a  world-wide  reputation,  has 
not  been  changed,  so  far  as  the  formation  of  the 
room  is  concerned  ;  but  it  was  thought  a  wise 
vStep  to  erect  an  entirely  new  stage,  which  should 
reach  from  wall  to  wall,  the  whole  width  of  the  Saloon, 
removing  both  partioned  rooms  on  each  side  of  the  old 
stage.  This  has  been  done  and  the  stage  has  now  seat- 
ing capacity  for  about  two  hundred  (200)  persons.  The 
seating  capacity  of  the  floor  of  the  Main  Saloon  has  also 
been  increased  to  about  twelve  hundred  (1200).  The 
three  large  circular  gas  fixtures  formerly  hanging  in  the 
centre  of  the  Saloon  have  been  removed,  the  lighting  now 
being  made  by  a  new  arrangement  from  the  side  walls, 
a  cluster  of  gas  and  electric  lights  being  placed  in  semi- 
circular form  over  the  top  of  each  window.  On  the 
stage  have  been  placed  two  large  "Standards,"  each 
holding  a  cluster  of  gas  and  electric  lights.  The  stage 
has  also  been  provided  with  a  full  set  of  footlights  in 


case  they  are  needed.  The  decorations  of  this  Saloon 
are  very  beautiful,  and  Mr.  Gibson,  while  his  work  in 
other  parts  of  the  building  is  in  excellent  good  taste, 
has  taken  especial  interest  in  the  coloring  and  design  of 
this  room.  The  general  color  is  ivory  with  gilt  and 
silver  finish,  and  the  effect  is  most  happy.  About  a  year 
or  so  ago  the  entire  floor  of  this  Saloon  was  relaid  with 
the  best  seasoned  wood  that  could  be  obtained,  great 
care  being  taken  that  it  should  be  first- class  in  every 
way. 


he  Musical  Fund  Society  feel  much  pleased  at  the 
result  of  their  efforts,  and  are  very  confident  that 
the  improvements  and  advantages  of  the  Hall 
will  result  in  an  increased  desire  for  its  use. 
Any  one  of  its  three  Saloons — one  with  2co  seating 
capacity,  another  with  400,  and  still  another  for  i2co — 
can  be  rented  for  any  time  of  day  or  evening  for  Meet- 
ings, Concerts,  Assemblies,  Balls,  Banquets,  Dinners, 
Suppers,  Fairs,  or  for  small  or  large  entertainments  of 
different  character.  There  is  a  possibility  that  in  the 
future  a  temporary  frame  work  may  be  erected  together 
with  a  curtain  and  a  limited  supph^  of  scenery,  so  that 
private  theatricals,  tableaux  and  such  performances 
may  be  given  in  the  Hall.  It  is  hoped  that  a  successful 
season  will  prove  that  the  effbrts  of  the  Society  to 
provide  a  first  class  concert  Hall  are  appreciated  by  the 
public. 


fi 


jHistory. 

s  many  persons  have  not  seen  Mr.  Wm.  L.  Mactier's 
sketch  of  The  Musical  Fund  Society,  published 
in  1885,  it  has  been  deemed  advisable  to  insert 
here  a  few  extracts  from  that  interesting  work  :; 


"The  Musical  Fund  Society  of  Philadelphia  was 
"established  February  29,  1820.  It  embraced  professors 
"of  music  and  amateur  members.  The  first  meeting 
"took  place  at  Elliott's  Hotel,  Chestnut  Street,  January 
"7,  1820,  Dr.  Wm.  P.  Dewees  in  the  chair,  and  John  K. 
"  Kane,  Secretary. 

■X-  ^  .  ^  *  -x- 

"  The  objects  of  the  v  -ety  were,  first,  to  cultivate 
"and  diffuse  a  musical  taste  ;  and,  secondly,  to  afford 
"  relief  to  its  necessitous  pr  ional  members  and  their 

"families.  Its  first  concei  was  given  on  Tuesday, 
"  April  24,  1 82 1,  at  Washington  Hall,  Third  Street  above 
"  Spruce  Street.     The  orchestra  and  chorus  consisted  of 

"one  hundred  performers. 

■X-  ■)^  -j^  *  ^  -x- 

"  The  most  distinguivShed  and  estimable  of  our  citi- 
"  zens  rapidly  joined  the  Society,  and  became  interested 
"in  its  advancement.  Its  first  President  was  Dr.  Wm. 
"  P.  Dewees,  and  its  first  Vice-President  Dr.  Robert  M 
"Patterson.  Judge  John  K.  Kane,  Benjamin  Say,, 
"Francis  Gurney  Smith,  Franklin  Peale,  Dr.  R. 
"  La  Roche,  Francis  M.  Drexel,  Dr.  George  McClellan, 
"Thomas  Sully,  John  Keating,  Jr.,  William  Meredith, 
"James  Nebins,  William  Kneass,  John  F.  Greland,  Dr- 
"Isr.ac  Hays,  Abraham  Ritter,  and  Francis  Hopkinson. 
"  became  members  in  1820. 

"As  larger  accommodations  were  required,  in  1824 
"a lot  of  ground  was  purchased  for  $7,500,  situate  on 
"  Locust  Street,  between  Eighth  and  Ninth  Streets,  on 
"which  stood  a  church  edifice,  formerly  occupied  by  a 
' '  congregation  under  the  pastoral  charge  of  Rev.  Thos.. 


*'  H,  Skinner.  The  corner-stone  of  the  new  Hall  was 
"  laid  May  25,  1824,  and  the  building  completed  Decem- 
"  ber  24th,  of  that  year,  under  the  plan  and  superintend- 
"ence  of  William  Strickland,  one  of  the  members  of 
"  the  Society. 

*  *  *  *  *  -Sf 

"  The  Hall  of  the  Society  vo^xy  soon  became  noted 
"  for  its  admirable  acoustic  qualities,  being  also  well 
"lighted,  well  ventilated,  and  sufficiently  spacious  to 
"  meet  the  demands  of  the  community. 

■5f  it  -Jt  -Sf  -Sf  ^«- 

"  Gas  was  first  introduced  into  the  Hall.  September 
"  26,  1827,  and  greatly  added  to  the  brillianc}'  of  the 
"  evening's  entertainments. 

■se-  -sf  *  -sf  ^e  ^ 

"In   1847  the  front  of  the  building  was   extended 

"  sixteen  feet,  and  the  position  of  the  stage  removed 

"  from  the  front  to  the  rear.     These  changes  i^appily 

"improved  the  acoustics  of  the  auditorium,   and  gave 

'*  additional  accommodations  to  the  Society. 

*  *  -jt  At  ^  ^ 

"  In  1857,  the  openin  ^  .  v^  Academy  of  Music  seri- 
"  ously  affected  the  public  musical  performances  of  the 
"  Musical  Fund  Society.  Operas  proved  more  attractive 
"  than  concerts.  Prima  donnas  appeared  to  more  advan- 
"  tage  on  the  stage,  with  the  accessories  of  costume  and 
"  scenery,  than  upon  the  platform  of  the  concert-room. 
"  And  with  this  year  began  a  new  p  :»licy  of  the  Society. 
"Guided  by  the  experience  of  the  past,  and  influenced 
"  by  the  former  action  of  the  Board  under  similar  cir- 
"  cumstances,  it  was  deemed  expedient  to  discontinue 
"  the  regular  concerts  of  the  Society,  in  order  to  carry 
"out  successfully  one  of  its  primary  objects,  namely, 
"  *  the  relief  of  decayed  musicians  and  their  families  ' 

"  In  the  retrospect  of  this  history  of  the  Society,  we 
"  believe  that  the  labors  of  the  Managers  for  the  culti- 
"  vation  of  a  pure  taste,  and  the  diffusion  of  a  greater 
"  love  of  music  among  all  classes  of  the  community, 
"have  not  been  in  vain.     It  may  not  be  proper,  at  this 


"time  to  do  more  than  allude  to  the  beneficial  oper- 
"ations  of  the  Society,  in  relieving  its  professional 
"  members  and  their  families  from  the  evils  incident  to 
"poverty,  sickness  and  old  age.  Many  have  been  the 
*'  prayers  and  grateful  thanks  of  the  widows  and 
"  orphans  who  have  been  most  liberally  provided  for 
"under  its  sheltering  arms.  More  than  one  hundred 
"  thousand  dollars  (#100,000)  have  been  thus  expended." 

■X-  -Jf-  •}«•  -x-  *  * 

Between  April  24,  1821,  and  May  28,  1857,  eighty- 
six  (86)  public  concerts  were  given  by  the  Musical  Fund 
Society.  Many  celebrated  artists,  both  vocalists  and 
instrumentalists,  appeared  at  these  concerts.  Among 
them  might  be  named  : 

l/oealists. 

Mad   Malibran .   .  June  i6,  1827 

Mme.  Brichta Mar.  24,  1831 

Signora  Pedrotti Mar.     7,  1833 

Mrs.  Austin Jan'y  13,  1832 

Mrs.  Wood Feb.    26,  1834 

Mad.  Otti Oct.    12,  1836 

Signora  Rossi May   12,  1837 

Mme  Caradon-Allen Mar.  12,  1838 

Mrs.  Seguin Dec.     5,  1839 

Miss  Poole        Feb.     8,  1841 

Mme  Castellan Dec.    14,  1843 

Signora  F^uphrasia-Borghese April  12,  1844 

Siguora  Pico Jan'y  28,  1845 

Mad.  Anna  Bishop .Jan'y    1,1848 

Mad.  Tedesso       Mar.  14,  1848 

Signora  Truflfi  ....       Mar.  25,  1848 

Signora  Amalia  Patti Mar.   25,1848 

Signora  Biscaccianti Mar.   25,  1848 

Signora  I^ietti-Corsi      Mar.   25,  1848 

Mad.  Amanda  Burton Oct.    15,  1848 

Mme.  I^aborde Oct.    17,  1848 

Mad.  Bertucca     ... May  30,  1850 

Miss  Caroline  Pintard May   30,1850 

Mme.  Theresa  Parodi ...  Jan'y   i,  1851 

Signora  Angiolina April  24,  1851 

Miss  Catharine  Hayes Dec.     6,  1851 

Mad.  Amalia  Strakosch ...      June    3,  1852 

Signorina  Adelina  Patti      Sept.  21,  1852 

Mme.  Marietta  Alboni Sept.  27,  1852 

Mme  Henrietta  Sontag     Oct.    14,  1852 

Mdlle.  Tourny ....  Dec      3,  1852 

Miss  Jenny  I^nd Oct     18,  1855 

Miss  Jenny  I^ind Oct.    19,  1855 

Miss  Jenny  IJnd Nov.  27,  1855 

Miss  Jenny  lyind Nov.  29,  1855 

Miss  Jenny  I^ind Nov.  30,  1855 

Miss  Jenny  lyind Dec.   16,  1855 

Miss  Jenny  L,ind Dec.    19,1855 

Miss  Jenny  Dind Dec.   22,  1855 


Mad.  Grisi Jan'y  lo,  1855 

Mad.  Vestvali Sept.  29,  1855 

Miss  Louisa  Pyne Sept.  29,  1855 

Mad.  La  Grange June    6,  1855 

Mad.  Gazzaniga - April  25,  1857 

Mad.  Isidora  Clark May  28,  1857 

Mad.  D'Angri Sept.  25,  1857 

Mad.  Frezzolini Nov.  13,  1857 


Signor  Fomisari Mar.    7,  1833 

Signor  Corsetti Mar.    7,  1833 

Signor  Pedrotti Mar.     7,  1833 

Mr.  Wood Feb.    26,  1834 

Signor  Valletina May    12,1837 

Signor  Natale  Felice May   12,  1837 

vSignor  Brough Mar.  12,  1838 

Mr.  Henry  Russell Mar.  12,  1838 

Mr.  Seguin Oct.    30,  1839 

Signor  Grampietro Dec.    14,  1840 

bignor  Luigi  Perozzi April  12,  1844 

Signor  Antognini Jan'y  28,  1845 

Signor  Sanquirico      Jan'y  28,  1845 

Mr.  Templeton Sept.  28,  1845 

Signor  Beneventano Mar.  25,  1848 

Signor  Rossi Mar.  25,  1848 

Signor  Corsi     Mar    25,  1848 

Signor  Benedetti Mar.  25,  1848 

Signor  Avignone Mar.  25,  1848 

Signor  Bellini Mar    25,  1848 

Signor  Vietti April   3,  1848 

Signor  Novello April   3,  1848 

Signor  Halma     April   3,  1848 

Signor  Natale  Perelli May   25,  1848 

Signor  Debreul Oct.      7,  1848 

Signor  Amoldi Oct.      7,  1848 

Signor  Giubelei Oct.      7,  1848 

Signor  La  Borde Oct     17,  1848 

Signor  Lorini Jan'y  i,  1851 

Signor  Bettini April  24,  1851 

Signor  Badiali April  24,  1851 

Signor  Bosio April  24,  1851 

Signor  Marini     April  24,  1851 

Signor  Colletti April  24,  1851 

Signor  Baritini April  24,  1851 

Signor  Martinelli April  24,  1851 

Signor  Strini April  24,  1851 

Signor  Condi April  24,  1851 

Signor  Pozzolini    ....       Dec.   11,  1853 

Signor  Rocco Nov.  26,  1852 

Signor  Cortesi Dec.     3,  1852 

Signor  Mario Jan'y  10,  1855 

Signor  I  eresa      Sept.  29,  1855 

Signor  Brignoli Dec.     i,  1855 

Signor  Amodio April  12,  1856 

Mr.  Wm.  Harrison Sept    29,  1855 


(^oijdijetors. 


Charles  F.  Hupfeld 1821 

Benjamin  Cross 1821 

Benjamin  Carr 1821 

T.  Loud 1821 


G.  Schetky 1821 

A.  Reinhart 1838 

Henri  Riha 1838 

Carl  Lenshow 1848 


Carl  Bergmann 1848 

Max  Maretzek    ..." 1849 

Josef  Gungl 1849 

Natale  Perelli     1849 

I^eopold  Meignen 1850 

Maurice  Strakosch 1851 


Michael  H.  Cross  .   . 
Carl  Sentz     .... 
Charles  M.  Schmitz 
.Simon  Hassler    .    . 
Mark  Hassler  .       .   . 
Wm.  Stoll,Jr 


Siguor  Rapetti 

Herr  H 

Herr  Nagel  .  . 
Mr.  Bley  .  .  . 
Signor  Artot  . 
Ole  Bull 
Camilla  .Sivori 
Carl  Hohnstock 
Griebel  .... 
Hausser     .   .    . 


Solo  l/iolii^ists. 


837 
841 
841 
843 
843 
844 
846 
849 
851 
852 


Paul  Julien 1852 

Guiseppe  Foghel 1852 

Vieuxtemps 

Kopta     

Carl  Gaertner 1846 

Arditi 1847 

Ivouis  Gaertner 

S.mon  Hassler       

Wm.StoU.Jr 


Solo  l/iolopeellists. 


Mr.  Gilles 1821 

Mr.  Schindielecker 1829 

Mr.  Knoop 1841 

Walteufel 


Signor  Casella  .  .  .  . 
Mr.  Chas.  M.  Schmitz 
Mr.  Rudolph  Hennig  . 


.  .  1844 
.  .  1851 
.    .  1869 


Solo  piapists. 


Kossowski 

,    .   .  1840 

Leopold  De  Meyer    .   .   . 

.   .  .  1846 

Henri  Herz      

.   .    .  1846 

Maurice  Strakosch  .  .   . 

.   .  .  1847 

Alfred  Jaell         

.   .   .  1852 

L.  Moreau  Gottschalk    . 

.   .  .  1853 

Thalberg 1857 

Jarv'is 1844 

CarlWolfsohn 

Gustave  Satter 

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Programme. 


Part  I 

UNDER  Mr.  WILLIM  8T0LL,  JR.,  CONDUCTOR. 


1.  March — "The  Iron  Cross" Isentann 

2.  Overture — "Raymond" .   Thomas 

3.  Grand  Selection — "LaGiaconda" Ponchielli 

4.  Waltz— "  Return  of  Spring" Waldteufel 

5.  Intermezzo — "Schelm  Amour  " Eilenberg 

6.  Salterella — "  Pechenr  Napolitan  et  Napolitaine  " 

Rubinstein 

7.  Gavotte — "Imperial" Hanau 

8.  Waltz—"  Lagunen  " Strauss 


Part  II. 

1.  March— "Athalia" Mendelssohn 

2.  Selection — "Mignon" Thomas 

3.  Waltz— "  Poor  Jonathan  " Millocker 

4.  Polish  National  Dance Scharwenka 

3.  ReveApresBal Boustet 

6.  Selection — "Paul Jones'' PlanqiLette 

7.  Waltz—"  O  !  Beautiful  May" Strauss 

8.  Galop— "  Gladys  " Geo.  P.  Kimball 


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